One month after the UK Online Safety Act came into force, public debate remains intense. The new rules, introduced by Ofcom to protect minors from harmful content, appear to have significantly reduced exposure to violent and pornographic material. But VPN use has surged, and society is split over the effectiveness and side-effects of the law.
Teens: ‘The feed is calmer’
In interviews with Sky News, several teenagers said their social media environment has improved. Algorithms now show less harmful material, and content linked to eating disorders or violence appears far less frequently. A 17-year-old girl remarked that she can now “scroll without fearing what might pop up.”
However, reporters’ tests revealed that TikTok still hosts self-harm-related content, while similar searches on Instagram led instead to mental health support pages.
Pornography sees steep decline
The most visible change is in the consumption of pornographic material. According to data from Similarweb, visits to porn websites by UK users dropped by as much as 45% in the first month. Even Reddit communities focused on BDSM saw a 12% decline.
The VPN boom
At the same time, VPN searches and downloads have spiked dramatically. On the day the new rules came into effect, five of the ten most popular apps in the UK App Store were VPNs, suggesting that thousands of users are bypassing age-verification. Baroness Beeban Kidron, a supporter of the law, noted that “this increase is not just about children, but also adults who now want to hide their online activity.”
Political and social backlash
The UK Online Safety Act has already drawn over 500,000 signatures on petitions demanding its repeal. Civil liberties groups such as Big Brother Watch have warned of threats to privacy and damage to the UK’s international image. In Parliament, Nigel Farage pledged to scrap the law if elected, while Technology Minister Peter Kyle retorted that such a move would “stand with the predators.”
The government insists the law is working and is already protecting children. Still, even supporters admit it will need constant adjustments to strike the right balance.
Also read: EU debates Chat Control: is this the end of privacy?
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