U.K. Porn Traffic Exceeds Social Networking, Shopping

LONDON — U.K. citizens clicked on a lot of porn last month. In fact, a study conducted by the Guardian revealed traffic to legal pornography sites amounted to 8.5 percent of all web page “clicks” in June, more than those for social networks, shopping, news or business.

The only categories that garnered more clicks were “arts and entertainment,” a sector heavily boosted by YouTube and Google’s video site and “search engines.” 

Comparatively, the U.K. surpassed the porn-click world average of 7.7 percent and the U.S. average of 8.5 percent. Germany proved most porn-inclined, with 12.5 percent of all clicks directed towards adult content. Spain ranked second with 9.6 percent.  

The data was compiled and analyzed by the Tel Aviv-based company SimilarWeb, which tracks clicks rather than volume of traffic to avoid data distortion caused by large video files. The figures do not include traffic from mobile phones.

Daniel Buchuk, SimilarWeb head of brand and strategy, suggests that porn is one of the main reasons people use the Internet.

"Traffic on adult sites represents a huge portion of what people use the internet for, not just in the U.K. but around the world," Buchuk said. "It is astonishing to see that adult sites are more popular in the U.K. than all social networks combined."

"People don't just 'stumble' upon adult content. More than 8 percent of Google U.K. searches led to adult sites in the past three months," he added.

The Guardian study was conducted as ISPs digest David Cameron’s recent ultimatum directing service providers to use “family friendly” filters as the default setting for all online devices. Users wishing to view adult content will need to call their service provider and specifically request access.

Cameron's directive has stirred up debate and controversy in the U.K. and abroad as people consider the value and feasibility of filtering online adult content.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2024 Pornhub Awards Winners Announced

Winners of the 2024 Pornhub Awards were announced this morning.

Justices Alito, Thomas Invoke Victorian-Era Morality Law, Raising Censorship Concerns

Several national publications reported this week on widespread concern among Free Speech advocates after U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas repeatedly invoked during a hearing the infamous segregation-era law the Comstock Act, which was the cornerstone of U.S. censorship of sexual material from the 1870s until the 1970s.

Skinfluential Management's FansFuel Acquires Fanwire

Creator stats and affiliate marketing platform FansFuel has acquired creator account management tool Fanwire.

Nebraska AV Bill Moves Forward Despite Privacy, Free Speech Concerns

Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature has given first-round approval to LB 1092, the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

AEBN Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN) is celebrating its 25th year in business this week.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still pursue antitrust claims in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to stay its recent decision upholding the law, because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s new age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

SK Intertainment Launches 'Skinfluential Management' Agency, FansFuel Joint Venture

Mr. Skin/Mr. Man parent company SK Intertainment has launched new creator agency Skinfluential Management, as well as a new joint venture with Showbizz Media's creator stats and affiliate marketing platform, FansFuel.

Show More