British Adult Content Traffic Declines Following Identity Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Watchdog

Visitor numbers to adult content sites in the UK has decreased markedly after the enforcement of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the adoption of specialist software designed to circumvent these restrictions has surged.

Sharp Drop in Visitor Figures After Rule Enforcement

The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an swift reduction in traffic to popular online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.

Overall, traffic to the 10 top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July implementation date. Later data suggests this downward trend in viewing persisted past August.

Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Restrictions

In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can get around location-based restrictions by masking connections through another country—more than doubled after 25 July.

User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the verification were introduced. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites.

Young People Taking Action to Damaging Online Content

Elsewhere, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of young people 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 survey was conducted before new regulations took effect that require social media companies to stop children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were showing harmful material.

Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Laws

In a related development, the ministers announced it would examine the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world.

“The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding criminalising, for example, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister.

Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Controls

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

Suggested changes to legislation aim to:

• Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
• Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer plays the role of a child.
• Introduce stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by site algorithms.
• Add further controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to create non-consensual nude images.
• Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on reports of illegal content.

The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.