How did age verification affect Pornhub in the UK?

Pornhub experienced a drop of 1.5 million UK visitors in August after age verification was enforced.

What is the trend in VPN usage in the UK since July 25?

VPN usage in the UK more than doubled following the introduction of age checks on pornography websites.

What is the UK government reviewing regarding online pornography?

The government is reviewing criminal laws related to pornography to ensure they are fit for the online world, focusing on harmful depictions and child abuse material.

Home / Technology / UK Porn Site Visits Plummet After Age Checks Introduced

UK Porn Site Visits Plummet After Age Checks Introduced

10 Dec

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Summary

UK porn site visitor numbers dropped significantly after July 25.
Pornhub saw 1.5 million fewer UK visitors in August compared to 2024.
VPN usage more than doubled following the introduction of age checks.

UK Porn Site Visits Plummet After Age Checks Introduced

Visitor numbers to the UK's most popular pornography websites have significantly declined following the introduction of age verification on July 25. Ofcom reported an immediate drop in traffic to major sites, including Pornhub, which saw 1.5 million fewer UK visitors in August compared to the same period in 2024.

In response to these age checks, the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent viewing restrictions surged, more than doubling from 650,000 to over 1.4 million users by mid-August. While VPN usage has since decreased, it remains a notable trend since the new regulations.

Additionally, about 60% of teenagers aged 11-17 reported taking action after encountering harmful content online. The government also announced a review of criminal laws related to pornography to address evolving online challenges, including harmful depictions and material encouraging child sexual abuse.