The new year brought with it new laws, most notably a Florida law requiring age verification to access adult content websites. Florida is just the latest state to restrict adult sites, but it has sparked a wave of interest in finding ways around the rule, especially since Pornhub — one of the largest and most popular adult sites — blocked access in Florida. VPNway to keep your internet activity private are in demand now more than ever.
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It's like connecting to the internet through a hidden tunnel instead of being out in the open. VPNs encrypt your traffic and can hide your “home” address so sites can't tell you where you really are. That's relevant to the growing interest in VPNs in countries that have implemented age-verification laws for accessing adult content online. Here's everything you need to know about VPNs.
VPNs aren't just a potential way to access banned or explicit material. Many people rely on them for privacy and to protect high or sensitive personal and business data. Video streaming enthusiasts have long used VPNs to watch shows, movies or sports that may be locked in their regions. TikTok fans are also exploring VPNs as a possible way around A ban on the popular social media app is expected.
What about a proxy?
A proxy server is another way to bypass regional restrictions. Like a VPN, a proxy masks your IP address (your “home” address) to make it look like you're somewhere else. However, it doesn't offer the same privacy as a VPN, which also encrypts your data. Learn the difference between a VPN and a proxy and when to use each.
Florida is joining the age-verification trend
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House bill 3 in March 2024, although it entered into force in early 2025. The draft law is focused on preventing minors under the age of 14 from becoming owners of accounts 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 that are inappropriate for children.” De Santis' office said in a statement last year.
Users must prove they are 18 years or older. Sites that fail to comply are subject to fines of up to $50,000 per violation.
Florida's age verification requirement is part of a trend of states that have passed or implemented similar mandates. Those 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 passed age verification requirements. Many of these laws impose penalties or allow a website to be sued for damages unless it uses an age verification process.
Pornhub is going dark
While some adult sites have launched age verification systems, major porn website Pornhub has chosen to go dark in states with age-verification laws, citing privacy concerns with requiring IDs.
PornHub's decision was evident in a 2024 Review Blog Post which included a map of popular search terms by state. States Pornhub no longer services appeared grayed out on the US map. CNET did not immediately receive a response from Pornhub's parent, Aylo, to a request for comment.
Interest in VPNs is on the rise
VPN review and advocacy website vpnMentor has seen a spike in demand for VPN services in Florida coinciding with the enactment of HB 3.
“The vpnMentor research team has seen a significant increase in VPN usage across the state of Florida, with an incredible spike seen in the early hours of January 1st, rising steadily from the final minutes of 2024 and peaking at 1,150% just four hours after HB 3 Law Takes Effect” the organization said in a January 2 announcement.
VpnMentor saw similar spikes when state bans on Pornhub began Utah in 2023 and Texas in 2024.
Proceedings to the Supreme Court
State-level age verification laws face legal challenges. The industry trade association for adults Free Speech Coalition is active in the fight against age verification laws. The group sued Florida in December to block the state's new law and has already challenged similar laws in other states.
“While keeping minors out of adult content is a laudable goal, the government has no right to force legal adults to scan their faces, upload photo ID, or otherwise give up their privacy to access the Internet “. said Alison Bodenexecutive director of the Free Speech Coalition, in a statement on January 6.
A national precedent may soon be set for state age-verification laws. The Supreme Court agreed to take up the Free Speech Coalition's case against the Texas law. The court heard oral arguments on January 15. It could be months before the Supreme Court issues a decision.
Choosing a VPN
VPNs have been around for a long time, but their increasing popularity means more internet users are looking for advice on choosing the right one. Not all VPNs are created equal. CNET generally does not recommend free VPN services. When evaluating a VPN, consider privacy standards, speeds, and price. Check out CNET's top VPN recommendations.
Age verification laws continue to be 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 those minors. VPNs will remain a hot topic, whether it's online pornography, general privacy, or TikTok.