British Pornography Site Visits Falls Following Identity Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Usage Surges, Reports Regulator
Traffic to pornography websites in the UK has decreased markedly after the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the adoption of specialist software designed to dodge these blocks has increased.
Sharp Drop in Visitor Numbers Following Rule Enforcement
The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an swift fall in traffic to popular pornography sites, including the top site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.
In total, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than prior to the late July deadline. Later analysis suggests this decline in site visits persisted past August.
Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Checks
In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based restrictions by masking connections through another country—surged after 25 July.
Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 people before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current numbers at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services.
Teenagers Taking Action to Harmful Online Content
In other findings, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing damaging content online. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the platform to muting the person who posted it.
This research was conducted before new rules came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform feed, indicating that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material.
Ministers Announce Review of Adult Content Laws
In a related development, the government stated it would review the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the ever-developing online world.
“The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to criminalising, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a government official.
Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Controls
Campaigners for better control of online pornography have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by using young-looking performers dressed as children.
Proposed amendments to legislation aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, often filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child.
- Apply tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site algorithms.
- Add further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to generate private images without permission.
- Establish a new, separate regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and act on complaints of illegal content.
The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.
