đ Share this article British Adult Content Traffic Declines After Identity Verifications, But VPN Use Spikes, States Regulator Visitor numbers to pornography platforms in the United Kingdom has decreased markedly after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. At the same time, the adoption of specialist software designed to circumvent these blocks has surged. Immediate Drop in Visitor Figures Following Rule Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an prompt decline in traffic to major pornography sites, such as the top site in the UK. Data indicates that visitor numbers to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than before the late July implementation date. Subsequent data suggests this downward trend in site visits continued beyond August. Surge in VPN Usage to Bypass Restrictions Reacting to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)âwhich can get around geographic blocks by routing internet traffic via another countryâsurged after 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 people before the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest figures at around 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use remains âmuch lowerâ than user numbers for adult services. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing damaging content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from flagging the content to the site to blocking the person who posted it. This survey was carried out before new rules took effect that require social media companies to stop children from seeing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material. Government Announce Review of Adult Content Laws In a related development, the government announced it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is âfit for purposeâ in the modern online world. âThe examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in relation to making illegal, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,â said a government official. Campaigners Call For Tighter Digital Regulations Advocates for better control of online pornography have called on the government to outlaw so-called âbarely legalâ material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting young-looking performers portraying children. Proposed changes to government bills aim to: Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, often recorded in environments like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Apply tighter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by site systems. Add further restrictions on ânudificationâ software, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to conduct inspections on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.
Visitor numbers to pornography platforms in the United Kingdom has decreased markedly after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. At the same time, the adoption of specialist software designed to circumvent these blocks has surged. Immediate Drop in Visitor Figures Following Rule Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an prompt decline in traffic to major pornography sites, such as the top site in the UK. Data indicates that visitor numbers to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than before the late July implementation date. Subsequent data suggests this downward trend in site visits continued beyond August. Surge in VPN Usage to Bypass Restrictions Reacting to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)âwhich can get around geographic blocks by routing internet traffic via another countryâsurged after 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 people before the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest figures at around 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use remains âmuch lowerâ than user numbers for adult services. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing damaging content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from flagging the content to the site to blocking the person who posted it. This survey was carried out before new rules took effect that require social media companies to stop children from seeing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material. Government Announce Review of Adult Content Laws In a related development, the government announced it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is âfit for purposeâ in the modern online world. âThe examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in relation to making illegal, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,â said a government official. Campaigners Call For Tighter Digital Regulations Advocates for better control of online pornography have called on the government to outlaw so-called âbarely legalâ material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting young-looking performers portraying children. Proposed changes to government bills aim to: Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, often recorded in environments like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Apply tighter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by site systems. Add further restrictions on ânudificationâ software, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to conduct inspections on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.