🔗 Share this article UK Pornography Site Visits Declines Following Identity Checks, But VPN Use Spikes, Reports Regulator Visitor numbers to adult content sites in the UK has decreased markedly after the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the country's communications regulator. At the same time, the use of tools designed to dodge these barriers has risen. Immediate Fall in User Figures After Rule Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt reduction in visits to popular pornography sites, such as the top site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data shows this slump in viewing continued past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Restrictions Reacting to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based blocks by masking connections via another country—increased dramatically following 25 July. User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users before the verification began. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified 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 revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from flagging the content to the site to muting the user who posted it. This research was conducted prior to new rules came into force that require social media companies to prevent children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way young people encountered such content was by looking through a social media feed, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Government Launch Review of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the modern online world. “The examination will investigate the efficacy of the current law in relation to making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Controls Advocates for tighter 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 child sexual abuse by using young-looking performers dressed as children. Suggested amendments to legislation aim to: Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, often filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by platform systems. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to create private images without permission. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to conduct inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of unlawful content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.
Visitor numbers to adult content sites in the UK has decreased markedly after the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the country's communications regulator. At the same time, the use of tools designed to dodge these barriers has risen. Immediate Fall in User Figures After Rule Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt reduction in visits to popular pornography sites, such as the top site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data shows this slump in viewing continued past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Restrictions Reacting to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based blocks by masking connections via another country—increased dramatically following 25 July. User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users before the verification began. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified 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 revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from flagging the content to the site to muting the user who posted it. This research was conducted prior to new rules came into force that require social media companies to prevent children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way young people encountered such content was by looking through a social media feed, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Government Launch Review of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the modern online world. “The examination will investigate the efficacy of the current law in relation to making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Controls Advocates for tighter 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 child sexual abuse by using young-looking performers dressed as children. Suggested amendments to legislation aim to: Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, often filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by platform systems. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to create private images without permission. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to conduct inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of unlawful content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.