đ Share this article British Pornography Site Visits Declines After Identity Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, Reports Regulator Traffic to adult content websites in the UK has fallen significantly after the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these barriers has risen. Sharp Drop in User Figures Following 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 shows that user traffic to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a âlower levelâ than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent data indicates this decline in site visits continued beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks In response to the new regulations, use of VPN softwareâwhich can circumvent location-based restrictions by routing internet traffic via another nationâsurged following 25 July. User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users before the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use remains âmuch lowerâ than traffic for adult services. Young People Responding to Damaging Material In other findings, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Actions ranged from flagging the material to the platform to blocking the user who shared it. This survey was carried out before new rules took effect that compel platforms to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Announce Examination of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is effective in the ever-developing online world. âThe review will look into the effectiveness of the current law in relation to criminalising, for example, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,â stated a justice minister. Advocates Call For Stricter Online Regulations Campaigners for better control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children. Proposed changes to legislation seek to: Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, often filmed in settings like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by platform algorithms. Introduce further controls on ânudificationâ technology, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, separate regulatory body to conduct inspections on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the online sphere.
Traffic to adult content websites in the UK has fallen significantly after the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these barriers has risen. Sharp Drop in User Figures Following 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 shows that user traffic to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a âlower levelâ than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent data indicates this decline in site visits continued beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks In response to the new regulations, use of VPN softwareâwhich can circumvent location-based restrictions by routing internet traffic via another nationâsurged following 25 July. User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users before the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use remains âmuch lowerâ than traffic for adult services. Young People Responding to Damaging Material In other findings, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Actions ranged from flagging the material to the platform to blocking the user who shared it. This survey was carried out before new rules took effect that compel platforms to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Announce Examination of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is effective in the ever-developing online world. âThe review will look into the effectiveness of the current law in relation to criminalising, for example, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,â stated a justice minister. Advocates Call For Stricter Online Regulations Campaigners for better control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children. Proposed changes to legislation seek to: Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, often filmed in settings like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by platform algorithms. Introduce further controls on ânudificationâ technology, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, separate regulatory body to conduct inspections on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the online sphere.