đ Share this article UK Adult Content Site Visits Declines Following Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Regulator Visitor numbers to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of tools designed to bypass these barriers has risen. Sharp Drop in Visitor Numbers After Law Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an prompt fall in visits to leading online adult platforms, including the leading site in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a âlower levelâ than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Later analysis indicates this decline in viewing persisted beyond August. Surge in VPN Adoption to Evade Checks Reacting to the new regulations, adoption of VPN softwareâwhich can bypass geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic through another countryâmore than doubled following 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people before the checks began. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains âmuch lowerâ than traffic for pornography services. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the regulator's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering damaging content on the internet. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the site to blocking the person who shared it. This survey was conducted before new regulations came into force that require social media companies to prevent children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The primary way young people encountered such content was by looking through a platform feed, indicating that algorithms were showing harmful material. Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Legislation Separately, the government announced it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is âfit for purposeâ in the ever-developing digital age. âThe review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, for example, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,â said a government official. Campaigners Call For Stricter Digital Controls Advocates for tighter control of adult content have urged the government to outlaw so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children. Proposed amendments to legislation seek to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, often filmed in environments like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child. Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Add further controls on ânudificationâ software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content. The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.
Visitor numbers to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of tools designed to bypass these barriers has risen. Sharp Drop in Visitor Numbers After Law Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an prompt fall in visits to leading online adult platforms, including the leading site in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a âlower levelâ than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Later analysis indicates this decline in viewing persisted beyond August. Surge in VPN Adoption to Evade Checks Reacting to the new regulations, adoption of VPN softwareâwhich can bypass geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic through another countryâmore than doubled following 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people before the checks began. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains âmuch lowerâ than traffic for pornography services. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the regulator's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering damaging content on the internet. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the site to blocking the person who shared it. This survey was conducted before new regulations came into force that require social media companies to prevent children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The primary way young people encountered such content was by looking through a platform feed, indicating that algorithms were showing harmful material. Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Legislation Separately, the government announced it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is âfit for purposeâ in the ever-developing digital age. âThe review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, for example, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,â said a government official. Campaigners Call For Stricter Digital Controls Advocates for tighter control of adult content have urged the government to outlaw so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children. Proposed amendments to legislation seek to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, often filmed in environments like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child. Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Add further controls on ânudificationâ software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content. The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.