The Daily Aus Why PornHub’s traffic is down
Aug 17, 2025
Traffic to adult sites like Pornhub has plummeted by 47% in the UK due to new age verification laws aimed at protecting minors. The discussion dives into the Online Safety Act and its impact on online behavior. It highlights various age verification technologies, including facial recognition and digital identity checks, while raising concerns about privacy. The rise in VPN usage reflects how users are navigating this new landscape, revealing the complex balance between legislation and accessibility for adult content.
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Large Traffic Drop After Age Checks
- The UK's Online Safety Act forced adult sites to verify the age of all UK users starting in July 2025.
- Pornhub's UK traffic dropped 47% within weeks, showing large behavioural shifts after enforcement.
Law Shifts Responsibility To Sites
- The Online Safety Act places legal responsibility on adult sites to prevent under-18 access.
- The law aims to protect young people from harmful sexually explicit content online.
Seven Ways To Verify Age Online
- Ofcom approved seven age-verification methods ranging from facial age estimation to mobile-operator checks.
- Options include photo ID matching, credit-card checks, open banking and digital IDs, each with trade-offs.