Charity warns nearly half of UK porn users visit unregulated sites since age checks

Nearly 45 per cent of UK porn users have visited unregulated websites since mandatory age verification checks were introduced last summer, Independent.co reports, new research from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation shows.

The poll of more than 3,700 Britons found 39 per cent of those who had visited unregulated sites watched content that made them uncomfortable and 40 per cent said what they saw put them off visiting the site altogether. Nearly a third (30 per cent) said they were concerned about how much pornography they use, rising to 51 per cent among men aged 18 to 24. The foundation also found that 47 per cent had reduced the amount of porn they watch since the rules came in and 55 per cent said the checks had made them think about their use.

The charity warned these unregulated sites may increase users' exposure to harmful and illegal material and risk becoming a pathway to indecent images of children, a concern echoed by the foundation's psychologists. An Ofcom report showed a sharp fall in visits to popular porn sites from 25 July when enforcement of highly effective age assurance began, while VPN use rose from about 650,000 daily users before 25 July to more than 1.4 million in mid-August 2025, later easing to around 900,000 in November. The Stop It Now helpline is available for anyone worried about their behaviour and can be reached on 0808 1000 900 or via secure email and live chat on the website.

Key Topics

Politics, Lucy Faithfull Foundation, Online Safety Act, Ofcom, Pornhub, Vpn