UK Pornography Site Visits Falls After Age Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Watchdog
Traffic to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly since the introduction of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the adoption of tools designed to circumvent these blocks has increased.
Immediate Drop in Visitor Figures Following Law Implementation
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an immediate decline in traffic to popular pornography sites, such as the most visited site in the UK. Data reveals that visitor numbers to this site in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024.
In total, traffic to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the late July implementation date. Subsequent analysis suggests this slump in viewing persisted beyond August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks
In response to the new regulations, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass location-based restrictions by masking internet traffic via another country—surged after 25 July.
User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has since decreased, with current figures at around 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services.
Teenagers Responding to Harmful Material
Elsewhere, the regulator's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content on the internet. Steps taken included flagging the material to the platform to blocking the user who posted it.
This survey was conducted before new regulations took effect that require social media companies to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a social media timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing harmful material.
Government Launch Examination of Adult Content Laws
Separately, the ministers stated it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world.
“The review will look into the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, among other things, harmful depictions of incest and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a government official.
Advocates Push For Tighter Online Controls
Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have called on the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by casting youthful adults portraying children.
Proposed amendments to legislation seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child.
- Introduce stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by platform algorithms.
- Add additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content.
The advocates contend that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.
