UK porn traffic down since beginning of age checks but VPN use up, says Ofcom
4 months ago
- #pornography-regulation
- #online-safety
- #age-verification
- UK traffic to pornography websites fell after age checks were introduced on July 25, with Pornhub's visitors dropping by 1.5 million in August 2024 compared to the same period.
- Use of VPNs to bypass age restrictions surged post-July 25, peaking at over 1.4 million users in mid-August before declining to 900,000.
- Ofcom's report found 60% of 11- to 17-year-olds took action after encountering harmful online content, often via social media feeds or group chats.
- The government announced a review of criminal laws on pornography, focusing on harmful depictions like incest and child sexual abuse encouragement.
- Campaigners proposed amendments to ban 'barely legal' pornography, including adult actors mimicking children, and stricter controls on incest-themed content and 'nudification' technology.