British Adult Content Traffic Falls After Identity Checks, But VPN Use Surges, States Watchdog
Access to adult content platforms in the UK has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of tools designed to bypass these blocks has risen.
Sharp Drop in Visitor Figures After Rule Implementation
The enforcement of age verification on 25 July resulted in an swift decline in traffic to leading online adult platforms, such as the leading provider in the UK. Data indicates that visitor numbers to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024.
Overall, traffic to the ten top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the late July deadline. Subsequent analysis shows this slump in site visits continued past August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Restrictions
In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another nation—surged following 25 July.
Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 people before the checks began. However, the regulator noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest numbers at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography services.
Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content
Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content on the internet. Actions ranged from flagging the material to the platform to muting the user who posted it.
This research was carried out prior to new rules took effect that require social media companies to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material.
Ministers Launch Examination of Adult Content Laws
In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing online world.
“The review will look into the effectiveness of the current law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” said a justice minister.
Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Controls
Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children.
Suggested changes to government bills seek to:
- Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, often filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Introduce stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by platform systems.
- Add additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create private images without permission.
- Establish a new, separate oversight agency to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and respond to complaints of unlawful content.
The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
