British Adult Content Traffic Falls Following Identity Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Watchdog

Traffic to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly since the enforcement of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has increased.

Sharp Fall in User Numbers After Rule Implementation

The enforcement of age verification on 25 July resulted in an swift reduction in visits to major online adult platforms, such as the most visited site in the UK. Figures indicates that user traffic to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.

Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent analysis suggests this decline in site visits persisted past August.

Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks

Reacting to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can get around geographic restrictions by masking internet traffic through another country—increased dramatically after 25 July.

Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from around 650,000 people before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with current numbers standing at around 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography services.

Teenagers Taking Action to Harmful Online Content

Elsewhere, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing distressing content online. Steps taken included reporting the content to the site to blocking the user who shared it.

This research was conducted prior to new rules took effect that compel platforms to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing harmful material.

Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Legislation

Separately, the government announced it would review the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the modern digital age.

“The review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister.

Campaigners Push For Stricter Online Controls

Campaigners for tighter control of online pornography have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children.

Proposed amendments to government bills seek to:

• Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
• Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child.
• Apply stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms.
• Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to generate private images without permission.
• Create a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to complaints of illegal content.

The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.