Time spent on porn websites down by a third after age crackdown

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/08/02/porn-website-down-third-age-crackdown/

Posted by TheTelegraph

20 comments

  1. Pornography websites have seen a sharp drop in the time British users spend on them after [online safety laws](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/08/01/influencers-promote-britain-new-porn-age-checks/) forced the sites to introduce age checks.

    The average time UK visitors spent on the most popular four adult websites has fallen by a third since age verification laws came into effect, according to analytics company Semrush.

    The figures suggest that large numbers of users are visiting the sites, only to leave when presented with the new checks.

    Adult websites must ensure that users are over 18 with checks such as ID verification, bank accounts or facial analysis.

    The crackdown has led to a surge in downloads of VPN software used to mask that website visitors are from the UK.

    The average visit [on Pornhub](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/06/26/pornhub-strict-age-check/), Britain’s most popular porn website, was 11 minutes and 18 seconds on July 20, but had fallen to seven minutes and 39 seconds by July 29 – five days after age checks came into force.

    Across the four most popular sites – Pornhub, xHamster, XVideos and XNXX – the average visit had fallen from 12 minutes and six seconds to seven minutes and 40 seconds.

    The data only accounts for the first few days of the online safety checks.

    Semrush data showed a much smaller drop-off in total visits, indicating that people were continuing to visit the sites but potentially turning away after facing age checks.

    The figures do not account for the number of Britons using VPNs to bypass the restrictions. The services have surged to the top of app download stores in the last week.

    Nor do they account for the large number of porn sites that have not introduced age checks. [Ofcom](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/10/ofcom-costs-hit-46m-after-losing-gb-news-legal-battle/) said this week it was investigating 34 websites that had not introduced age checks.

    **Read more:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/08/02/porn-website-down-third-age-crackdown/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/08/02/porn-website-down-third-age-crackdown/)

  2. Yeah, its down because it is no longer being recorded correctly due to people using a VPN to mask the activity so this data is absolutely pointless

  4. Whenever you see a potential solution not benefit somebody is when you see their true perspective come out

    Nobody who’s mad about this can claim to care about the future generation. All of these people coming out saying it’s useless……well now you have evidence that it works. Even if it works a little it’s worth it. Too many kids being targeted by porn stars and porn sites and it’s wayyyyy too normalised

  5. I wonder if there’s an uptick in visitors from other countries

  6. Yeah – it’s not down it’s just redirected or covered by a VPN.

  8. >The figures do not account for the number of Britons using VPNs to bypass the restrictions. The services have surged to the top of app download stores in the last week.

    >Nor do they account for the large number of porn sites that have not introduced age checks. [Ofcom](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/10/ofcom-costs-hit-46m-after-losing-gb-news-legal-battle/) said this week it was investigating 34 websites that had not introduced age checks.

    An absolutely fucking pointless article then.

  9. The average time UK visitors spend on the four most popular porn websites has dropped…

    I can’t get my head around this statistic. Is it suggesting that only seasoned wankers have bothered to follow the correct age verification procedures and because they are seasoned they finish quicker?

  10. I’ve just been busy at work, normal service will resume next week

  11. You gotta pump those numbers up, those are rookie numbers…..

  12. What I love most about this stupid law is how much it’s going to kill AI investment into Britain. They’ve just wiped out a large proportion of their data gathering potential by forcing people to use VPNs. If you’re a VPN company right now, not only are you likely salivating at the new business, but you’re also salivating at the prospect of being able to sell anonymous user data to AI companies for training.

    I hate this government. I hate all government at this point. They are objectively stupid people in the most important positions of power in our society, and their solitary focus is steadfastly refusing to admit any kind of shortsightedness. Labour are worse than Conservatives in this regard.

    I’ve never known a party squander such a favourable majority.

  13. Gotta get yer WANKIN LOICENSE or else you’re breakin the LAW!!!

  14. Celibate policymakers must be feeling great now – making real impact

  15. Unfortunately it’s predictable that it’s going to lead to less pedophiles being caught. Since cp content viewed on a vpn is difficult to track. One good thing will be that the help desk it jobs will be flooded with calls on how to setup and use a vpn.

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