British Adult Content Site Visits Falls Following Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Watchdog
Visitor numbers to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, according to the country's communications authority. At the same time, the usage of specialist software designed to dodge these barriers has increased.
Immediate Drop in Visitor Numbers After Law Implementation
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an prompt reduction in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the most visited provider in the UK. Data reveals that visitor numbers to this platform 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 most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis indicates this slump in site visits continued past August.
Surge in VPN Adoption to Bypass Restrictions
In response to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic blocks by masking internet traffic through another nation—more than doubled following 25 July.
Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 users before the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with latest numbers at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites.
Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content
In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering harmful content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the platform to blocking the user who posted it.
This research was carried out prior to new rules came into force that compel platforms to prevent children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by scrolling through a platform feed, indicating that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material.
Government Announce Review of Pornography Legislation
In a related development, the government announced it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is effective in the ever-developing digital age.
“The examination will look into the efficacy of the current law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a government official.
Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Regulations
Advocates for better control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting youthful adults portraying children.
Suggested changes to legislation aim to:
- Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Introduce stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site algorithms.
- Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images.
- Create a new, separate oversight agency to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content.
The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.
