British Pornography Site Visits Declines After Age Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, Reports Watchdog

Traffic to pornography websites in the UK has decreased markedly since the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the nation's communications regulator. At the same time, the usage of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has risen.

Immediate Drop in User Numbers Following Rule Enforcement

The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July led to an prompt fall in visits to popular online adult platforms, including the leading site in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.

Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than prior to the late July deadline. Subsequent analysis shows this downward trend in viewing persisted past August.

Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks

Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can bypass geographic restrictions by masking internet traffic through another country—surged following 25 July.

Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 people prior to the checks began. However, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites.

Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content

Elsewhere, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering damaging content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the platform to blocking the user who shared it.

This survey was carried out prior to new regulations came into force that require platforms to stop children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.

Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Legislation

In a related development, the government stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world.

“The review will investigate the efficacy of the current law in relation to making illegal, among other things, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister.

Advocates Call For Stricter Online Regulations

Advocates for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children.

Suggested changes to government bills seek to:

• Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
• Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
• Introduce tighter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by platform systems.
• Add further controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create private images without permission.
• Establish a new, independent oversight agency to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to complaints of unlawful content.

The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.