The new year brought new laws, including a Florida law requiring age verification to access websites with adult content. Florida is just the latest state to restrict adult sites, but it has sparked a wave of interest in finding ways to get around the rule, especially since Pornhub – one of the most popular adult sites important and most popular – blocked access to Florida. VPNs, a way to keep your internet activity private, are now more in demand than ever.
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for virtual private network. It’s like connecting to the internet through a hidden tunnel rather than being out in the open. VPNs encrypt your traffic and can hide your “home” address so sites can’t find out where you really are. This is relevant given the surge in interest in VPNs in states that have implemented age verification laws for accessing online adult content. Here’s everything you need to know about VPNs.
VPNs aren’t just a potential way to access prohibited or explicit material. Many people rely on them to maintain their privacy and protect their valuable or sensitive personal and business data. Streaming video enthusiasts have long used VPNs to watch shows, movies, or sports that can be locked to their own area. TikTok fans are also looking into VPNs as a possible way to get around the popular social media app’s impending ban.
What about a proxy?
A proxy server is another way to bypass regional restrictions. Like a VPN, a proxy hides your IP address (your “home” address) to make it appear that you are somewhere else. However, it doesn’t offer the same privacy as a VPN, which also encrypts your data. Learn the difference between VPNs and proxies and when to use them.
Florida Joins Age Verification Trend
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Parliamentary Bill 3 in March 2024, although it came into force at the beginning of 2025. The bill aims to prevent minors under the age of 14 from becoming account holders on social networks.
“In addition to protecting children from the dangers of social media, HB 3 requires pornographic or sexually explicit websites to use age verification to prevent minors from accessing sites inappropriate for children.” DeSantis’ office said in a statement last year.
Users must prove they are 18 years or older. Websites that fail to comply are subject to penalties of up to $50,000 per violation.
Florida’s age verification requirement is part of a trend of states that have adopted or implemented similar mandates. These states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.
The movement began in earnest in 2022 when Louisiana met age verification requirements. Many of these laws impose fines or allow a website to be sued for damages unless it uses an age verification process.
Pornhub goes dark
While some adult sites have launched age verification systems, major porn site Pornhub has chosen to hide in states with age verification laws, citing privacy concerns related to age verification. requirement for an identity document.
Pornhub’s decision came in a Blog article review of the year 2024 which included a map of popular search terms by state. States that Pornhub no longer serves appear grayed out on the US map. CNET did not immediately receive a response from Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, regarding a request for comment.
Interest in VPN is growing
VPN review and advocacy site vpnMentor noted a surge in demand for VPN services in Florida, coinciding with HB 3 taking effect.
“The vpnMentor research team observed a significant increase in VPN usage across the state of Florida, with a staggering increase noted in the early hours of January 1, increasing steadily since the final minutes of 2024 and reaching its peak of 1,150% just four hours after January 1. HB 3 came into effect”, the organization said in a press release dated January 2.
VpnMentor saw similar spikes when Pornhub state bans were initiated in Utah in 2023 and Texas in 2024.
Take it to the Supreme Court
State-level age verification laws face legal challenges. Adult industry trade association Free Speech Coalition actively fights age verification laws. The group sued Florida in December to block the state’s new law and has previously challenged similar laws in other states.
“While keeping minors away from adult content is a laudable goal, the government has no right to force legal adults to scan their faces, upload a photo ID, or forgo any other way to their privacy to access the Internet”, said Alison Bodenexecutive director of the Free Speech Coalition, in a January 6 statement.
A national precedent for state age verification laws may soon be set. The Supreme Court has agreed to take up the Free Speech Coalition’s case against the Texas law. The court heard oral arguments on January 15. It may take months before the Supreme Court issues its decision.
Choosing a VPN
VPNs have been around for a long time, but their growing popularity means more and more people are looking for advice on choosing the right one. Not all VPNs are equal. CNET generally does not recommend free VPN services. When evaluating a VPN, consider privacy standards, speeds, and price. Check out CNET’s best VPN recommendations.
Age verification laws remain a battleground. No one is arguing that minors should have access to adult sites, but the question arises around what mechanisms should be used or required to protect these minors. VPNs will continue to be a hot topic, whether it’s when it comes to online pornography, privacy in general, or TikTok.
