UK Pornography Traffic Falls Following Age Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Usage Surges, States Regulator

Visitor numbers to pornography websites in the UK has seen a notable drop since the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications authority. Simultaneously, the adoption of tools designed to bypass these restrictions has surged.

Sharp Drop in User Numbers Following Law Implementation

The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an immediate decline in visits to leading pornography sites, including the leading 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, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than before the late July implementation date. Later data suggests this slump in viewing persisted beyond August.

Sharp Increase in VPN Adoption to Evade Restrictions

Reacting to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent geographic restrictions by routing connections through another nation—more than doubled after 25 July.

Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from approximately 650,000 people before the checks began. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult sites.

Young People Taking Action to Harmful Online Content

In other findings, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken included flagging the material to the site to blocking the user who posted it.

This research was conducted prior to new rules took effect that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, indicating that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.

Ministers Launch Examination of Adult Content Legislation

Separately, the ministers announced it would review the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world.

“The examination will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, harmful depictions of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister.

Campaigners Call For Stricter Online Controls

Campaigners for better regulation of online pornography have called on the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children.

Proposed amendments to government bills seek to:

• Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
• Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer plays the role of a child.
• Apply tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by platform algorithms.
• Add additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to generate private images without permission.
• Create a new, independent oversight agency to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to complaints of illegal 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.