đ Share this article British Adult Content Site Visits Falls After Age Checks, But VPN Use Surges, Reports Watchdog Access to pornography sites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has increased. Sharp Fall in User Figures After Rule Enforcement The enforcement of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate reduction in visits to popular pornography sites, including the top site in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a âlower levelâ than before the late July deadline. Later analysis suggests this decline in viewing persisted past August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks Reacting to the new regulations, adoption of VPN softwareâwhich can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections via another countryâincreased dramatically following 25 July. Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 people prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest figures at around 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use is âmuch lowerâ than traffic for adult services. Teenagers Responding to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to muting the person who shared it. This research was conducted prior to new rules took effect that compel social media companies to prevent children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Laws In a related development, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the ever-developing digital age. âThe examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,â said a government official. Advocates Call For Stricter Online Controls Advocates for tighter regulation of adult content have called on the government to ban so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers dressed as children. Suggested changes to legislation aim to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, sometimes recorded in settings like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Add additional restrictions on ânudificationâ software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create non-consensual nude images. Create a new, separate oversight agency to conduct inspections on adult platforms and respond to complaints of unlawful content. The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.
Access to pornography sites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has increased. Sharp Fall in User Figures After Rule Enforcement The enforcement of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate reduction in visits to popular pornography sites, including the top site in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a âlower levelâ than before the late July deadline. Later analysis suggests this decline in viewing persisted past August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks Reacting to the new regulations, adoption of VPN softwareâwhich can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections via another countryâincreased dramatically following 25 July. Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 people prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest figures at around 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use is âmuch lowerâ than traffic for adult services. Teenagers Responding to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to muting the person who shared it. This research was conducted prior to new rules took effect that compel social media companies to prevent children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Laws In a related development, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the ever-developing digital age. âThe examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,â said a government official. Advocates Call For Stricter Online Controls Advocates for tighter regulation of adult content have called on the government to ban so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers dressed as children. Suggested changes to legislation aim to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, sometimes recorded in settings like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Add additional restrictions on ânudificationâ software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create non-consensual nude images. Create a new, separate oversight agency to conduct inspections on adult platforms and respond to complaints of unlawful content. The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.