🔗 Share this article UK Adult Content Traffic Falls After Age Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Watchdog Access to adult content sites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the nation's communications regulator. At the same time, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has increased. Sharp Drop in User Numbers Following Law Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an swift fall in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the most visited provider in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this platform in August reached 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 settled at a significantly reduced level than before the end-of-July deadline. Later data indicates this downward trend in site visits continued past August. Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Bypass Restrictions Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can get around geographic blocks by routing internet traffic via another country—increased dramatically after 25 July. User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users before the checks were introduced. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest numbers at around 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found 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 person who posted it. This survey was conducted prior to new regulations came into force that compel social media companies to prevent children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were serving harmful material. Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Laws In a related development, the government stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the ever-developing online world. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Controls Campaigners for better control of adult content have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting youthful adults dressed as children. Proposed changes to legislation aim to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to possess software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years offline finally are extended to the digital age.
Access to adult content sites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the nation's communications regulator. At the same time, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has increased. Sharp Drop in User Numbers Following Law Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an swift fall in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the most visited provider in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this platform in August reached 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 settled at a significantly reduced level than before the end-of-July deadline. Later data indicates this downward trend in site visits continued past August. Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Bypass Restrictions Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can get around geographic blocks by routing internet traffic via another country—increased dramatically after 25 July. User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users before the checks were introduced. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest numbers at around 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found 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 person who posted it. This survey was conducted prior to new regulations came into force that compel social media companies to prevent children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were serving harmful material. Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Laws In a related development, the government stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the ever-developing online world. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Controls Campaigners for better control of adult content have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting youthful adults dressed as children. Proposed changes to legislation aim to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to possess software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years offline finally are extended to the digital age.