Virtual private network apps have soared to the top of the United Kingdom’s Apple App Store charts, following new requirements for age verification on websites like Pornhub, Reddit, and X, which took effect on Friday.
VPNs allow users to mask their real location and appear as though they’re browsing from another country, enabling many to sidestep restrictions introduced under the UK’s Online Safety Act.
The legislation requires platforms hosting adult or potentially harmful content to implement stringent age verification measures.
By Monday morning, VPN services made up half of the top 10 most downloaded free apps in the UK App Store. One developer told the BBC that its app had seen a staggering 1,800% increase in downloads.
