UK Adult Content Site Visits Falls Following Identity Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, States Watchdog

Access to adult content platforms in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly since the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the adoption of specialist software designed to circumvent these blocks has increased.

Sharp Fall in Visitor Numbers Following Law Implementation

The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July led to an immediate fall in visits to leading pornography sites, including the top site in the UK. Data shows that user traffic to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024.

In total, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the late July implementation date. Later analysis suggests this downward trend in viewing continued past August.

Surge in VPN Adoption to Bypass Restrictions

Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based restrictions by routing internet traffic via another country—increased dramatically after 25 July.

User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest numbers at around 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites.

Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content

Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found 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 content to the site to blocking the user who shared it.

This survey was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that require social media companies to prevent children from seeing 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 social media feed, suggesting that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.

Ministers Announce Examination of Pornography Laws

Separately, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing online world.

“The review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” said a justice minister.

Campaigners Call For Stricter Online Regulations

Campaigners for tighter control of online pornography have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children.

Proposed changes to government bills seek to:

• Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
• Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
• Apply tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms.
• Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create non-consensual nude images.
• Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content.

The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years offline finally are extended to the digital age.