Pornhub’S Shocking Traffic Drop: 1 Million Visitors Lost Daily!

Pornhub Faces a Massive Visitor Decline

Hey there, darlings, let’s dive into some spicy news that’s got everyone talking. Pornhub, the undisputed king of adult content in the UK, is suddenly looking a little less irresistible. According to data wizards at Similarweb, the site has lost a jaw-dropping 1 million visitors every single day over the past two weeks, with numbers plummeting by 47 percent between July 24 and August 8.

We’re talking a drop from an average of 3.2 million daily visits in July to just 2 million in the first week of August. And they’re not alone - OnlyFans saw a 10 percent dip, while XVideos also took a hard hit with a 47 percent loss in daily traffic. So, what’s got everyone clicking away from these steamy platforms?

Well, if you’ve been steering clear of adult sites lately, props to you - studies do suggest that too much of this content can mess with mental health and even intimate relationships. But for those still curious, there’s a big reason behind this exodus, and it’s all tied to some fresh UK legislation. Stick with us as we unpack the juicy details!

Why Are Visitors Ditching Pornhub? It’s All About the New Rules

Here’s the tea, loves - the UK’s new Online Safety Act is shaking things up in a major way. This law, designed to protect underage users from explicit content, now requires adult sites like Pornhub to verify that visitors are over 18. How? By asking users to upload personal details and a photo, which, let’s be real, feels like a major privacy red flag for a lot of folks.

It’s no surprise that many adults are hitting the ‘no thanks’ button. The fear of data leaks - especially when it comes to something as personal as browsing habits - is keeping users at bay. While the law aims to shield kids from adult content, it’s also sidelining plenty of grown-ups, even though some have found sneaky loopholes to access the same old content.

“We’ve seen this pattern globally - when strict verification hits, compliant sites lose traffic while unregulated ones gain it,” a Pornhub spokesperson shared with the BBC, highlighting the unintended ripple effects of such laws.

How Does Age Verification Work, and Why the Backlash?

Curious about how Pornhub checks if you’re of age? They’ve got a few options up their sleeve - think credit card checks, email-based age estimation, mobile network verification, open banking, or even digital IDs via Google Wallet. The company swears that all this is handled by trusted third-party providers, with only a simple ‘pass or fail’ result sent back, no personal data stored or shared by Pornhub or its parent company, Aylo.

Still, the skepticism is real. Many worry that handing over such sensitive info could lead to devastating leaks - imagine personal habits or even sexual orientation being exposed. As Andrew Wailes from PlaySafe ID told LADbible (speaking generally about age verification), companies are ‘legally responsible’ for your data, but you’ve still got to trust them to keep it locked down tight.

“It might be secure, or it might not be - ultimately, you’re putting your faith in the company,” Wailes added. And that’s a gamble not everyone’s willing to take, especially when it comes to something so private.

Unintended Consequences: Traffic Shifts to Unregulated Sites

Here’s where things get a bit messy, sweeties. Similarweb’s study revealed a troubling trend - while regulated sites like Pornhub are losing visitors, unregulated platforms are seeing a surge in traffic. That means people aren’t just giving up on adult content; they’re seeking it out in less controlled, potentially riskier corners of the internet where extreme material might be more accessible.

For sites that don’t comply with the new UK rules, the consequences are steep. If caught by OFCOM, they could face fines of up to £18 million or 10 percent of their revenue - ouch! But the bigger issue is safety, as users migrate to spaces with fewer protections in place.

Alex Kekesi, Brand and Community Head at Aylo, previously voiced concerns to LADbible about the broader impact of the Online Safety Act. He argued that instead of site-specific checks, every device should start as ‘kid-safe,’ with verified adults unlocking access to adult content, dating apps, or gambling. “This device-based verification is the safest way to protect kids and preserve privacy,” he emphasized. We’ve reached out to Pornhub for further comment, so stay tuned for updates!