Visitor numbers to pornography websites in the UK has seen a notable drop since the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the nation's communications authority. At the same time, the usage of specialist software designed to circumvent these barriers has surged.
Sharp Fall in User Figures After Law Implementation
The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an swift reduction in traffic to leading pornography sites, such as the leading provider in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024.
Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data indicates this slump in viewing persisted beyond August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks
Reacting to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based blocks by masking internet traffic through another country—increased dramatically after 25 July.
Usage peaked at over 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 steadily declined, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites.
Teenagers Responding to Damaging Online Content
In other findings, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering harmful content online. Steps taken included reporting the content to the platform to blocking the user who posted it.
This survey was carried out prior to new rules took effect that compel platforms to prevent children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a platform feed, suggesting that algorithms were showing harmful material.
Government Launch Review of Pornography Legislation
Separately, the government stated it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age.
“The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to criminalising, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister.
Advocates Push For Stricter Digital Regulations
Advocates for tighter regulation 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 using young-looking performers dressed as children.
Proposed changes to legislation aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the offence of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Apply stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site algorithms.
- Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to generate non-consensual nude images.
- Establish a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to complaints of unlawful content.
The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.