đ Share this article British Adult Content Site Visits Declines Following Identity Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, Reports Regulator Access to pornography platforms in the United Kingdom has decreased markedly after the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications authority. At the same time, the usage of tools designed to bypass these barriers has risen. Immediate Drop in User Figures Following Rule Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an prompt fall in visits to leading online adult platforms, including 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 compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, 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 implementation date. Later analysis indicates this downward trend in viewing continued past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks Reacting to the new regulations, use of VPN softwareâwhich can get around location-based restrictions by masking connections through another nationâincreased dramatically following 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use is âmuch lowerâ than user numbers for pornography services. Young People Taking Action to Harmful Material In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering damaging content on the internet. Steps taken included reporting the content to the platform to muting the user who posted it. This survey was carried out prior to new rules came into force that compel social media companies to prevent children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Laws In a related development, the government announced it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing online world. âThe review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,â said a justice minister. Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Regulations Campaigners for tighter regulation of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote abuse by casting young-looking adults portraying children. Proposed amendments to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer plays the role of a child. Apply stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Introduce further controls on ânudificationâ technology, potentially making it an offence to possess software designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.
Access to pornography platforms in the United Kingdom has decreased markedly after the roll-out of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications authority. At the same time, the usage of tools designed to bypass these barriers has risen. Immediate Drop in User Figures Following Rule Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an prompt fall in visits to leading online adult platforms, including 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 compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, 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 implementation date. Later analysis indicates this downward trend in viewing continued past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks Reacting to the new regulations, use of VPN softwareâwhich can get around location-based restrictions by masking connections through another nationâincreased dramatically following 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use is âmuch lowerâ than user numbers for pornography services. Young People Taking Action to Harmful Material In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering damaging content on the internet. Steps taken included reporting the content to the platform to muting the user who posted it. This survey was carried out prior to new rules came into force that compel social media companies to prevent children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Laws In a related development, the government announced it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing online world. âThe review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,â said a justice minister. Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Regulations Campaigners for tighter regulation of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote abuse by casting young-looking adults portraying children. Proposed amendments to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer plays the role of a child. Apply stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Introduce further controls on ânudificationâ technology, potentially making it an offence to possess software designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.