UK age gates curb major site visits

UK enforcement of age verification led to a sharp fall in visits to top adult sites, prompting questions about effectiveness and privacy.

UK age gates cut traffic on major porn sites

Britain has introduced mandatory age verification for many online platforms. Data from BBC News reflecting Similarweb shows a sharp drop in UK visitors to top adult sites in the two weeks after enforcement began. Pornhub's UK traffic fell 47 percent between July 24 and August 8, losing more than a million visitors. XVideos showed the same drop, while OnlyFans traffic declined by about 10 percent. In contrast, visits to smaller and less regulated sites rose. Analysts say the pattern points to a shift in where people go rather than a drop in overall demand. The data also highlight how easy it is to bypass age gates with a VPN. Proton VPN told The Verge that UK sign ups surged by about 1,800 percent in the three days after the rules took effect, and VPN apps were among the top downloads in the UK at the time.

Policy makers argue the changes are meant to protect minors, but the results so far raise questions about privacy and enforcement. If age checks remain easily circumventable, the policy may reduce harm for some while pushing others toward less regulated spaces. Critics say this kind of tech driven approach risks eroding trust and complicating legitimate access for adults. The outcome may depend on how platforms implement verification and how regulators respond to evolving user behavior.

Highlights

Policy and privacy will continue to collide as rules evolve.