UK Pornography Traffic Declines After Age Verifications, But VPN Usage Spikes, States Watchdog

Traffic to pornography websites in the UK has decreased markedly since the roll-out of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the nation's communications watchdog. Concurrently, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these blocks has risen.

Sharp Fall in User Numbers After Rule Enforcement

The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt reduction in traffic to major online adult platforms, including the leading site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this site in August were 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.

In total, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than prior to the late July deadline. Subsequent analysis shows this decline in site visits continued beyond August.

Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks

In response to the new regulations, adoption of VPN software—which can get around geographic blocks by masking connections via another country—surged following 25 July.

User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 people before the verification began. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services.

Young People Taking Action to Harmful Material

Elsewhere, the regulator's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken included reporting the content to the site to muting the user who shared it.

This research was conducted before new regulations took effect that compel platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a platform feed, indicating that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.

Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Legislation

In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing online world.

“The examination will look into the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, among other things, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a government official.

Campaigners Call For Stricter Online Controls

Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by using youthful adults portraying children.

Suggested amendments to government bills seek to:

• Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
• Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer plays the role of a child.
• Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by site algorithms.
• Add further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to create private images without permission.
• Establish a new, separate oversight agency to conduct inspections on pornography sites and act on reports of illegal content.

The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for years offline finally apply to the digital age.