UK Adult Content Site Visits Falls After Identity Checks, Yet VPN Use Spikes, States Watchdog
Visitor numbers to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has decreased markedly after the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the nation's communications watchdog. At the same time, the adoption of specialist software designed to dodge these blocks has surged.
Immediate Drop in Visitor Numbers Following Rule Enforcement
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July caused an prompt reduction in visits to major online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Data reveals that visitor numbers 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, visitor numbers to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis suggests this slump in site visits continued past August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks
Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based restrictions by routing internet traffic via another country—increased dramatically following 25 July.
User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from around 650,000 people prior to the verification were introduced. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current figures at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services.
Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material
Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing damaging content online. Actions included reporting the material to the platform to blocking the person who shared it.
This survey was carried out before new regulations took effect that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a platform feed, indicating that recommendation systems were serving harmful material.
Ministers Announce Examination of Adult Content Legislation
In a related development, the ministers announced it would examine the criminal law relating to pornography to assess whether it is effective in the modern online world.
“The review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, among other things, harmful portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a government official.
Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Regulations
Advocates for better control of adult content have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote abuse by casting young-looking performers portraying children.
Proposed amendments to government bills aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer plays the role of a child.
- Introduce tighter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by platform systems.
- Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to create private images without permission.
- Create a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and respond to complaints of illegal content.
The advocates contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for years in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.
