X Blocks Adult Content in UK Amid Online Safety Crackdown

Meta-owned platform X has begun enforcing the UK’s new Online Safety Act by significantly restricting adult content access in the UK. Starting July 25, users are now required to undergo verified age checks—such as uploading a government ID, scanning their face, using bank or credit card verification, or leveraging mobile carrier data—before they can view explicit material, including pornography and content related to self-harm or eating disorders .

As a result, UK users who do not complete verification are automatically placed into restricted content settings. Those users are effectively unable to view certain sensitive media, and platforms default to preventing access—even if the user attempts to toggle hidden modes or safe-search tools .

Regulators are clear: non-compliant services face heavy penalties under the Online Safety Act, including fines up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has stated that platforms failing to provide “highly effective” age verification may be blocked entirely within the UK .

The response from users and observers is mixed. Privacy-conscious individuals and public figures like Nigel Farage—from Reform UK—label the law as overly draconian and a serious infringement on online freedoms. They argue it will push teens toward VPNs and the darker corners of the web, making access to illicit or harmful content even more likely .

Indeed, VPN usage within the UK has surged alarmingly—ProtonVPN reports registration spikes exceeding 1,400%. Critics warn that users who can easily mask their location may bypass age checks altogether and encounter unmoderated or dangerous content .

Major platforms including Bluesky, Reddit, Discord, and X have already begun rolling out age-gated experiences for UK users. Some offer limited functionality or safe-mode feeds for users who decline or fail age checks, while others have blocked access entirely to content flagged as sensitive or adult .

Despite the high-tech approach, early security research suggests these verification methods may be easily bypassed. Ethical hackers demonstrated how many systems relying on facial recognition or ID uploads could be circumvented using widely available tools within seconds on several adult sites—a finding that raises concerns about the new law’s practical effectiveness .

Supporters—including children’s charities and online safety advocates—see the law as a necessary leap in protecting minors. They emphasize that platforms must now bear clear responsibility, establish named executives for compliance, and provide fast content removal and reporting systems for harmful material .

Overall, X’s enforcement of age checks reflects the broader shift in UK policy: content is no longer freely accessible, even on major global platforms. The law’s ambitions are sweeping, but its rollout has revealed sharp tensions: protecting children versus preserving privacy and civil liberties. Critics warn that in its drive for child safety, the Online Safety Act may unintentionally undermine the very protections it seeks to uphold.

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