🔗 Share this article UK Adult Content Traffic Declines Following Age Checks, But Virtual Private Network Usage Surges, States Watchdog Access to pornography platforms in the UK has decreased markedly after the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. At the same time, the use of tools designed to circumvent these blocks has increased. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Rule Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an swift fall in visits to leading pornography sites, including the leading provider in the UK. Figures indicates that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. In total, traffic to the 10 top adult services in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than before the late July deadline. Later data shows this decline in viewing persisted beyond August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Checks Reacting to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent geographic blocks by masking internet traffic via another nation—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage reached a high at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current numbers standing at around 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography services. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content In other findings, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing damaging content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the content to the site to blocking the user who posted it. This research was carried out before new rules came into force that compel platforms to prevent children from seeing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material. Government Announce Examination of Pornography Laws Separately, the ministers announced it would review the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world. “The review will investigate the effectiveness of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Call For Tighter Online Controls Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using young-looking performers dressed as children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply tighter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Create a new, separate regulatory body to conduct inspections on adult platforms and respond to reports of illegal content. The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.
Access to pornography platforms in the UK has decreased markedly after the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. At the same time, the use of tools designed to circumvent these blocks has increased. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Rule Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an swift fall in visits to leading pornography sites, including the leading provider in the UK. Figures indicates that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. In total, traffic to the 10 top adult services in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than before the late July deadline. Later data shows this decline in viewing persisted beyond August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Checks Reacting to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent geographic blocks by masking internet traffic via another nation—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage reached a high at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current numbers standing at around 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography services. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content In other findings, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing damaging content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the content to the site to blocking the user who posted it. This research was carried out before new rules came into force that compel platforms to prevent children from seeing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material. Government Announce Examination of Pornography Laws Separately, the ministers announced it would review the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world. “The review will investigate the effectiveness of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Call For Tighter Online Controls Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using young-looking performers dressed as children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply tighter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Create a new, separate regulatory body to conduct inspections on adult platforms and respond to reports of illegal content. The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.