đ Share this article British Adult Content Site Visits Declines Following Identity Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Regulator Access to adult content sites in the UK has decreased markedly after the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the adoption of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has surged. Immediate Fall in User Figures Following Rule Enforcement The enforcement of age verification on 25 July caused an prompt decline in traffic to major online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Data shows that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis shows this downward trend in viewing persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN softwareâwhich can circumvent location-based restrictions by routing internet traffic via another countryâsurged after 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from approximately 650,000 users before the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains âmuch lowerâ than traffic for pornography sites. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Actions ranged from reporting the content to the platform to muting the user who shared it. This research was carried out before new regulations took effect that require platforms to stop children from seeing dangerous content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The primary way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Legislation In a related development, the government stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern online world. âThe review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,â said a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Regulations Advocates for better control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called âbarely legalâ material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults portraying children. Suggested changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in environments like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Introduce further restrictions on ânudificationâ software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to create private images without permission. Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform inspections on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.
Access to adult content sites in the UK has decreased markedly after the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the adoption of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has surged. Immediate Fall in User Figures Following Rule Enforcement The enforcement of age verification on 25 July caused an prompt decline in traffic to major online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Data shows that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis shows this downward trend in viewing persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN softwareâwhich can circumvent location-based restrictions by routing internet traffic via another countryâsurged after 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from approximately 650,000 users before the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains âmuch lowerâ than traffic for pornography sites. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Actions ranged from reporting the content to the platform to muting the user who shared it. This research was carried out before new regulations took effect that require platforms to stop children from seeing dangerous content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The primary way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Legislation In a related development, the government stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern online world. âThe review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,â said a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Regulations Advocates for better control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called âbarely legalâ material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults portraying children. Suggested changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in environments like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Introduce further restrictions on ânudificationâ software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to create private images without permission. Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform inspections on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.