UK Pornography Traffic Declines Following Age Checks, But Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Regulator

Visitor numbers to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly since the enforcement of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the nation's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the use of tools designed to dodge these blocks has risen.

Sharp Drop in Visitor Figures After Rule Enforcement

The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an immediate decline in traffic to popular online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Data shows that user traffic to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.

In total, traffic to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent data suggests this downward trend in site visits continued beyond August.

Surge in VPN Usage to Bypass Restrictions

In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based blocks by routing internet traffic through another nation—surged after 25 July.

User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 users prior to the verification were introduced. However, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current figures at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult sites.

Teenagers Responding to Harmful Online Content

In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from reporting the content to the site to blocking the user who shared it.

This survey was conducted before new rules took effect that require platforms to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The primary way young people came across such content was by looking through a social media timeline, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material.

Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Legislation

Separately, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is effective in the ever-developing digital age.

“The examination will look into the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” said a government official.

Campaigners Call For Stricter Digital Controls

Campaigners for tighter control of adult content have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children.

Suggested amendments to legislation aim to:

• Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes 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 acts the part of a child.
• Introduce stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms.
• Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create private images without permission.
• Establish a new, separate oversight agency to perform spot checks on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content.

The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades offline finally are extended to the digital age.