UK Pornography Traffic Falls After Age Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Regulator
Visitor numbers to adult content sites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the use of tools designed to bypass these blocks has risen.
Sharp Fall in Visitor Numbers After Rule Enforcement
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July caused an swift fall in traffic to major online adult platforms, including the most visited site in the UK. Figures indicates that user traffic to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024.
Overall, visitor numbers to the ten top adult services in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the late July deadline. Later data suggests this decline in site visits persisted beyond August.
Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Bypass Checks
In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based blocks by masking connections via another nation—surged after 25 July.
Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with latest figures at around 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites.
Teenagers Responding to Harmful Material
Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content online. Steps taken ranged from flagging the content to the platform to blocking the user who posted it.
This research was carried out prior to new rules took effect that compel platforms to prevent children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.
Government Announce Examination of Pornography Laws
In a related development, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age.
“The review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in regarding criminalising, among other things, harmful depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister.
Campaigners Call For Tighter Digital Regulations
Campaigners for better regulation of online pornography have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking performers dressed as children.
Suggested changes to government bills seek to:
- Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child.
- Introduce stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by platform systems.
- Introduce further controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to create private images without permission.
- Establish a new, independent oversight agency to conduct inspections on pornography sites and respond to complaints of unlawful content.
The advocates contend that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years offline finally apply to the digital age.
