đ Share this article British Pornography Traffic Declines After Age Checks, But VPN Usage Surges, Reports Watchdog Access to adult content sites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of tools designed to circumvent these blocks has surged. Immediate Fall in User Numbers Following Rule Implementation The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July caused an immediate fall in traffic to popular pornography sites, such as the top site in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, traffic to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Later data suggests this downward trend in site visits persisted past August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks In response to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)âwhich can circumvent location-based blocks by masking connections via another countryâsurged after 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 people before the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with latest numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use is âmuch lowerâ than traffic for pornography services. Teenagers Responding to Harmful Online Content In other findings, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering harmful content online. Steps taken included flagging the material to the platform to blocking the user who shared it. This research was carried out prior to new rules took effect that compel platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The primary way young people encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Launch Review of Pornography Laws In a related development, the government announced it would review the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern digital age. âThe review will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding criminalising, among other things, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,â said a government official. Advocates Push For Tighter Online Regulations Campaigners for tighter control of adult content have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children. Proposed amendments to legislation aim to: Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in environments like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child. Apply tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by site systems. Introduce further controls on ânudificationâ software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, separate regulatory body to perform spot checks on adult platforms and act on complaints of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years offline finally apply to the online sphere.
Access to adult content sites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of tools designed to circumvent these blocks has surged. Immediate Fall in User Numbers Following Rule Implementation The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July caused an immediate fall in traffic to popular pornography sites, such as the top site in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, traffic to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Later data suggests this downward trend in site visits persisted past August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks In response to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)âwhich can circumvent location-based blocks by masking connections via another countryâsurged after 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 people before the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with latest numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use is âmuch lowerâ than traffic for pornography services. Teenagers Responding to Harmful Online Content In other findings, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering harmful content online. Steps taken included flagging the material to the platform to blocking the user who shared it. This research was carried out prior to new rules took effect that compel platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The primary way young people encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Launch Review of Pornography Laws In a related development, the government announced it would review the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern digital age. âThe review will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding criminalising, among other things, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,â said a government official. Advocates Push For Tighter Online Regulations Campaigners for tighter control of adult content have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children. Proposed amendments to legislation aim to: Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in environments like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child. Apply tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by site systems. Introduce further controls on ânudificationâ software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, separate regulatory body to perform spot checks on adult platforms and act on complaints of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years offline finally apply to the online sphere.