Time spent on porn websites down by a third after age crackdown
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, 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 said this week it was investigating 34 websites that had not introduced age checks.
'Privacy risk'
Previous age verification laws have led to huge drops in traffic. After Louisiana introduced age verification in 2023, Pornhub said its traffic had dropped by 80pc, although the state's law was more restrictive than the UK's, not allowing methods such as facial age estimation.
Websites face fines of £18m or 10pc of their global turnover for failing to introduce effective age verification.
Opponents of age verification have claimed that handing over details to an adult website constitutes a privacy risk.
On Friday, the Government defended the laws.
Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, said: 'This marks the most significant step forward in child safety since the internet was created.
'The reality is that most children aren't actively seeking out harmful, dangerous, or pornographic content – unfortunately it finds them. That's why we've taken decisive action.
'Age verification keeps children safe. Rather than looking for ways around it, let's help make the internet a safer, more positive space for children - and a better experience for everyone. That's something we should all aspire to.'
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