UK Adult Content Traffic Falls After Age Verifications, But VPN Use Surges, States Regulator

Visitor numbers to pornography platforms in the UK has fallen significantly after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications regulator. At the same time, the adoption of tools designed to circumvent these barriers has increased.

Immediate Fall in User Numbers After Rule Implementation

The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an immediate reduction in visits to major pornography sites, such as the leading provider in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.

Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent analysis suggests this slump in viewing continued past August.

Sharp Increase in VPN Adoption to Bypass Checks

Reacting to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can get around geographic blocks by routing internet traffic via another nation—increased dramatically after 25 July.

Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people prior to the checks began. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest numbers at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography services.

Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content

In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content online. Actions included reporting the material to the platform to blocking the person who posted it.

This research was carried out prior to new rules came into force that require platforms to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers came across such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material.

Ministers Launch Review of Pornography Laws

Separately, the government stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern digital age.

“The review will look into the efficacy of the current law in relation to making illegal, among other things, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a government official.

Campaigners Call For Tighter Digital Regulations

Campaigners for better control of online pornography have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking performers portraying children.

Suggested amendments to legislation aim to:

• Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
• Broaden the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
• Apply stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by platform algorithms.
• Add further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to create non-consensual nude images.
• Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on adult platforms and act on complaints of unlawful content.

The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.