UK Adult Content Site Visits Falls After Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Watchdog

Visitor numbers to adult content sites in the UK has decreased markedly since the roll-out of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the nation's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to circumvent these blocks has risen.

Sharp Drop in Visitor Numbers After Rule Implementation

The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an prompt reduction in traffic to major online adult platforms, such as the top provider in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this site in August were 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.

In total, 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. Later data indicates this downward trend in site visits persisted beyond August.

Surge in VPN Adoption to Bypass Restrictions

In response to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another nation—increased dramatically following 25 July.

Usage reached a high at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography services.

Young People Responding to Damaging Material

In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content on the internet. Actions ranged from reporting the content to the site to blocking the person who shared it.

This research was carried out before new regulations came into force that require platforms to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, indicating that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.

Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Legislation

In a related development, the government announced it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the ever-developing online world.

“The examination will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a justice minister.

Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Controls

Campaigners for tighter regulation of adult content have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by using young-looking performers portraying children.

Suggested changes to government bills seek to:

• Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, often filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
• Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child.
• Introduce stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by platform algorithms.
• Add additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
• Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content.

The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.