UK Adult Content Traffic Declines After Identity Checks, Yet VPN Use Spikes, Reports Regulator
Visitor numbers to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly since the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has increased.
Sharp Drop in User Numbers Following Rule Implementation
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt decline in traffic to popular online adult platforms, such as the most visited site in the UK. Data reveals that user traffic to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.
Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data indicates this slump in viewing persisted beyond August.
Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Restrictions
Reacting to the new regulations, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass geographic 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 people prior to the checks were introduced. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult services.
Young People Taking Action to Harmful Online Content
In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing damaging content online. Steps taken included reporting the content to the site to muting the user who posted it.
This research was conducted prior to new rules came into force that compel platforms to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a platform feed, suggesting that algorithms were serving harmful material.
Ministers Launch Examination of Adult Content Laws
Separately, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the ever-developing digital age.
“The review will investigate the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to criminalising, among other things, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a justice minister.
Advocates Call For Tighter Online Controls
Campaigners for tighter regulation of adult content have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children.
Suggested changes to legislation seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child.
- Apply tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by platform systems.
- Add additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on adult platforms and respond to complaints of illegal content.
The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for decades offline finally apply to the online sphere.