Experiences of Age Assurance, Use of VPNs, and attitudes to the Protection of Children Measures

A four-wave tracker survey of children’s experiences of age verification requests between July 2025 and January 2026.

Children’s experiences of being asked to verify their age - Data

This research explores the extent to which children use VPNs, including the extent to which they are used for certain activities associated with VPN use, and how frequently they use a VPN.

Part One

Children's Use of VPNs (11-17s) - Data

Part two

Children's Use of VPNs (16-17s, VPNs and accessing pornographic content online)

Explores the awareness and perceptions of parents with at least one child aged 17 or under regarding the Protection of Children measures and age assurance measures.

Parent’s Perceptions of Protection Children Measures, Wave 2, October 2025 (XLSX, 806 KB)

Parent's Perceptions of Protection of Children Measures, July 2025 (XLSX, 736 KB)

Ofcom has commissioned a survey of UK internet users aged 16+ who self‑report having accessed pornographic content online, to understand how they access such content and their past experiences with age checks.

Proving age to access online pornography