🔗 Share this article UK Pornography Site Visits Falls Following Age Verifications, Yet VPN Use Spikes, States Watchdog Access to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications authority. At the same time, the adoption of specialist software designed to dodge these barriers has risen. Immediate Drop in User Figures After Rule Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an immediate reduction in visits to leading online adult platforms, including the leading provider in the UK. Data reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later data suggests this decline in site visits continued beyond August. Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Evade Checks In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based restrictions by masking connections via another nation—surged after 25 July. User numbers reached a high at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 people prior to the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest numbers at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content on the internet. Steps taken included reporting the content to the site to muting the person who posted it. This survey was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that compel social media companies to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Legislation Separately, the ministers stated it would review the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world. “The review will look into the efficacy of the current law in relation to criminalising, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Controls Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers dressed as children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer plays the role of a child. Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and respond to complaints of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for decades in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.
Access to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications authority. At the same time, the adoption of specialist software designed to dodge these barriers has risen. Immediate Drop in User Figures After Rule Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an immediate reduction in visits to leading online adult platforms, including the leading provider in the UK. Data reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later data suggests this decline in site visits continued beyond August. Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Evade Checks In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based restrictions by masking connections via another nation—surged after 25 July. User numbers reached a high at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 people prior to the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest numbers at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content on the internet. Steps taken included reporting the content to the site to muting the person who posted it. This survey was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that compel social media companies to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Legislation Separately, the ministers stated it would review the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world. “The review will look into the efficacy of the current law in relation to criminalising, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Controls Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers dressed as children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer plays the role of a child. Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and respond to complaints of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for decades in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.