UK Pornography Traffic Falls After Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Usage Surges, Reports Watchdog
Visitor numbers to pornography platforms in the United Kingdom has decreased markedly after the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the use of tools designed to circumvent these barriers has risen.
Immediate Drop in User Numbers Following Rule Implementation
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt reduction in visits to leading online adult platforms, such as the top site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.
In total, traffic to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent analysis suggests this slump in site visits continued past August.
Surge in VPN Adoption to Evade Checks
In response to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based restrictions by masking connections through another nation—surged after 25 July.
Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from around 650,000 people prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current numbers standing at around 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites.
Teenagers Responding to Harmful Material
In other findings, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken included flagging the content to the site to blocking the user who shared it.
This research was carried out before new regulations came into force that require social media companies to stop children from seeing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.
Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Laws
Separately, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world.
“The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the existing law in regarding making illegal, among other things, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister.
Campaigners Push For Stricter Online Regulations
Campaigners for tighter regulation of adult content have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children.
Proposed amendments to government bills aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the crime of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer plays the role of a child.
- Introduce stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by platform systems.
- Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to create private images without permission.
- Establish a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content.
The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.
