When it comes to the Online Safety Act, the U.K. government has done something unusual. Numbers can’t be fudged:
In the two weeks Pornhub has been up and Online Safety Act-ed, traffic from Britain had plummeted almost 47%. Major platforms such as XVideos and xHamster have seen similar declines.
Why is that?
Now media regulator Ofcom (Office of Communications) makes adult platforms conduct age verification, treating them for the first time in this country as places which host “legal but harmful” content. If a fan can’t just get past the gate, some won’t try, and that means fewer eyes looking at our content.
A Performer’s Dilemma
For those of us who rely on platforms like Pornhub to build and maintain a fan base, this change is a big issue. Fewer eyeballs means less exposure- and that directly affects our income stream and momentum.
On top of this, many fans are already turning to VPNs to bypass restrictions, making it unreliable to calculate data. Who is really watching us? Where do they come from? And will they hang around for long enough to help us? In this environment, it’s more difficult to build trust and consistent earnings.
Still This All Worth It To Do?
Online Safety Act is ostensibly about safeguarding underage children from harmful content—a goal on which everyone in the industry concurs. But in reality, it feels as though it punishes the very performers and fans who are working responsibly and within the law.
The big question for creators is, On platforms where traffic is falling, do we remain; or should we change to completely unimpeded spaces? If the money is boycotted everywhere by endless verification barriers, what’s the point of posting here at all?
In Conclusion
As things stand now, some performers are seeing their numbers climb off a cliff. Others say that nothing much has changed, and a few hold out hope the system can find equilibrium given enough time. However, with VPN use skyrocketing across the UK, it’s plain to see age verification laws have weak points—and creators are paying the bill.
Professional Performers and the Online Safety Act: Is It Still Worth It?
The Bottom Line Whether you make your living as a performer or simply like to share things with the world, nothing feels worse than watching new regulations silently put paid to your usage and the traffic you rely on for income. In the UK, it’s clear that thanks to Ofcom regulation implemented under the Online Safety Act in 2022
The Challenge: Reach and Revenue Lost. When platforms strictly enforce age checks, there are many casual viewers who simply won’t leave. For performers, this means fewer eyes on our work, less exposure–fewer revenue potential realized. Add in the popularization of VPNs– which play havoc with statistics and make it harder than ever before to understand where fans are coming from — and there’s no other conclusion: we’re operating in a more complicated, less reliable environment today.
Possible Solutions for Performers
- Diversify Platforms. No longer can performers afford to rely on a single site like Pornhub being sustainable. They should spread the news and commentary across many different — adult-friendly businesses as well as popular social media sites– to reduce dependency upon any one regulatory scheme or search engine specification.
- Get Direct-to-Fan Spaces Up and Running. Construction of personal websites, subscription platforms (like OnlyFans or Fansly, etc.), and even private Telegram/Discord groups let performers control how their content is seen by fans. This is separate from regulatory interference and corporate algorithm changes.
- Mailing Lists and Direct Communication An address-based and contacts list is the be-all end-all policy. Unlike people who follow on a platform, contacts or e-mail addresses can’t be fought by sudden evolutionism changes. Even though the source of information always holds a way to reach its audience.
- Emphasize Branding & Community Memberships. Fans get both connections and products when they buy. If you strengthen the unique character of your product and build a loyal community, fans will follow wherever you lead them to. It doesn’t matter which tube site it goes to as long as they’re with you. A subscription, or even your own homepage that’s all part of the package.
- Use Free Platforms Strategically Tube sites like Pornhub can still be valuable as funnel platforms — places to post teasers, clips, or promo edits that drive traffic to your paid channels. Even with a lower reach, they can still be a way in, rather than an entire income source.
The Big Question: Is It Worth It?
According to the founder of Razor Edge Talent Mr. Daniel Hogue. Sticking solely with a single platform that delivers diminishing traffic might no longer make sense for you. But if we make use of those same platforms strategically — as promotional tools while we build stronger, independent spaces—yes, they can continue to serve a purpose.
The real fundamental question is a matter of control: take possession of your audience, your product line, and ways to sustain life, so that no law or new retrieval technology can suddenly slice you apart from fans.
