British Adult Content Traffic Declines After Age Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Watchdog

Access to adult content platforms in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop since the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the nation's communications authority. At the same time, the use of tools designed to dodge these barriers has surged.

Immediate Fall in User Numbers After Law Implementation

The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an immediate decline in visits to leading pornography sites, such as the most visited site in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.

Overall, traffic to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data shows this slump in viewing persisted beyond August.

Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Restrictions

In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based restrictions by masking connections through another country—surged following 25 July.

Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks began. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest numbers standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult sites.

Teenagers Responding to Harmful Material

In other findings, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering harmful content online. Steps taken ranged from flagging the material to the site to blocking the person who shared it.

This survey was conducted prior to new regulations came into force that compel social media companies to prevent children from accessing dangerous 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 recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material.

Ministers Launch Review of Pornography Laws

Separately, the government stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world.

“The review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister.

Campaigners Call For Stricter Digital Regulations

Campaigners for better control of online pornography have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting youthful adults dressed as children.

Suggested amendments to government bills aim to:

• Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, often filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms.
• Extend the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child.
• Apply tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site systems.
• Add additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to generate private images without permission.
• Create a new, separate oversight agency to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content.

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