Traffic to pornography websites in the UK has fallen noticeably since age-verification measures came into force in July 2025. According to Ofcom, the enforcement launched on 25 July triggered an immediate drop in visits to major adult sites — including the UK’s most-visited portal, Pornhub. In August, Pornhub recorded 9.8 million UK visits — about 1.5 million fewer than in the same month in 2024. Over the following months, numbers continued to drop: by November 2025 Pornhub had just 7.2 million unique UK visitors, a 36 % fall since August 2024.
As age checks began, usage of virtual private networks (VPNs) in the UK more than doubled — rising from around 650,000 users to a peak of over 1.4 million by mid-August 2025. The figure later settled at around 900,000 users. Ofcom noted that though VPN usage surged, the number of daily VPN users remains lower than the total user numbers of adult-content sites. Sites like Pornhub have acknowledged that the decrease was “not a surprise,” pointing out that comparable traffic declines occurred in other jurisdictions following similar age-verification enforcement. Some users appear to have migrated to less-compliant platforms or those targeting other markets.
Age Checks Under Online Safety Act
The drop in traffic came after the UK implemented age-verification requirements under the Online Safety Act 2023. From 25 July 2025, all pornography sites accessible to UK users must verify that visitors are over 18 — often via ID check, credit card, or biometric verification. Ofcom is the regulatory body enforcing compliance; failure to comply can trigger fines or blocking of access. According to Ofcom’s most recent data, all of the 10 most-visited adult sites have now deployed some form of age assurance.
Report Highlights Youth Exposure & Online Harms
The same report also reveals that many children and teenagers in the UK had previously encountered harmful content online: around 60 % of 11- to 17-year-olds surveyed said they had reported or blocked content after stumbling on material they found disturbing or explicit. Much of this exposure came via social media feeds or group chats, not explicit searches — underscoring how algorithm-driven recommendation systems often push inappropriate content to minors.
Government Moves to Strengthen Legal Protections
Alongside enforcement, the UK government announced a planned review of criminal laws related to pornography. The review aims to examine whether existing legislation is sufficient to tackle harmful content — including incest-themed material, adult productions where performers mimic children, and violent pornography. Amendments proposed by lawmakers seek to close loopholes that currently permit the online distribution of material that would have been illegal offline. Campaigners also urge broader regulation of “nudification” technologies — software that can create nude images without consent — and propose a new independent oversight body working alongside Ofcom to spot and act on illegal content.
Effect on Online Porn Landscape
The combined effect of age verification, enforcement action, and increasing regulation appears to be shifting the UK online-porn landscape. Major adult websites are seeing fewer UK visitors; some non-compliant platforms face fines or are under investigation. VPN use — while initially spiking — has not returned to pre-regulation levels. Meanwhile, pressure mounts for tougher legislation to prevent harmful content from reaching vulnerable audiences, especially children. The government and watchdogs say this transformation is part of a broader attempt to adapt laws and online-safety frameworks to the challenges of the digital age.
