UK Adult Content Site Visits Declines After Identity Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Regulator

Traffic to pornography sites in the UK has decreased markedly since the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the nation's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to circumvent these restrictions has increased.

Immediate Drop in User Figures Following Rule Implementation

The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt fall in traffic to popular online adult platforms, including the leading site in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this site 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 most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data suggests this slump in site visits persisted past August.

Sharp Increase in VPN Adoption to Bypass Restrictions

Reacting to the new regulations, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around geographic blocks by masking connections through another nation—more than doubled following 25 July.

User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 people prior to the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current numbers standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the level of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services.

Teenagers Responding to Harmful Material

Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content online. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the platform to blocking the person who posted it.

This survey was carried out before new regulations took effect that require social media companies to prevent children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.

Government Launch Examination of Adult Content Laws

In a related development, the ministers announced it would review the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world.

“The review will look into the effectiveness of the current law in relation to making illegal, for example, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a government official.

Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Regulations

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

Suggested amendments to government bills aim to:

• Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
• Extend the offence of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer plays the role of a child.
• Introduce tighter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms.
• Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to generate private images without permission.
• Establish a new, separate regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and respond to reports of unlawful content.

The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years offline finally apply to the online sphere.