Visitor numbers to pornography sites in the UK has fallen significantly after the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to circumvent these blocks has increased.
Immediate Drop in User Numbers Following Rule Enforcement
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an prompt decline in traffic to leading pornography sites, such as the leading site in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.
In total, traffic to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than before the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent data suggests this decline in viewing persisted beyond August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks
In response to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another country—surged following 25 July.
Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 users prior to the verification began. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current figures at around 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services.
Teenagers Responding to Harmful Online Content
Elsewhere, the regulator's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering damaging content on the internet. Steps taken included reporting the content to the platform to blocking the user who posted it.
This survey was conducted prior to new rules took effect that compel platforms to prevent 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, indicating that algorithms were serving harmful material.
Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Laws
In a related development, the ministers announced it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world.
“The review will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister.
Campaigners Call For Stricter Online Regulations
Campaigners for better control of adult content have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children.
Suggested amendments to legislation seek to:
- Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the offence of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child.
- Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by platform systems.
- Add additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to generate private images without permission.
- Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform spot checks on adult platforms and act on complaints of unlawful content.
The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for years in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.
