British Adult Content Traffic Declines Following Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Regulator
Access to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop after the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications authority. Simultaneously, the adoption of tools designed to circumvent these restrictions has surged.
Immediate Fall in Visitor Numbers After Rule Enforcement
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July caused an immediate reduction in visits to major pornography sites, such as the leading site in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.
Overall, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent analysis indicates this slump in viewing continued past August.
Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Checks
Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can bypass geographic blocks by masking connections through another nation—surged after 25 July.
Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 people prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with latest numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for adult sites.
Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content
In other findings, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content on the internet. Actions included reporting the content to the platform to muting the person who posted it.
This survey was conducted prior to new rules came into force that compel platforms to stop children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way young people encountered such content was by looking through a platform feed, indicating that recommendation systems were showing harmful material.
Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Laws
In a related development, the government stated it would examine the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern digital age.
“The review will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a government official.
Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Regulations
Advocates for tighter regulation of adult content have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by using young-looking performers dressed as children.
Suggested changes to government bills aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child.
- Introduce stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by platform systems.
- Add additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to create private images without permission.
- Establish a new, separate regulatory body to perform inspections on adult platforms and respond to reports of illegal content.
The advocates contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades offline finally are extended to the digital age.
