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 – has blocked access to Florida. VPNs, a way to keep your online 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 instead of being open. VPNs encrypt your traffic and can hide your “home” address so that sites can’t tell where you really are. This is important for the increased interest in VPNs in states that have implemented age verification laws to access adult content online. Here’s everything you need to know about VPNs.
VPNs aren’t the only possible way to access banned or censored material. Many people rely on them for privacy and to protect high-value or sensitive personal and business data. Video streaming fans have long used VPNs to watch shows, movies or sports that may be blocked in their areas. TikTok fans are also investigating VPNs as a possible way to counter the impending ban on the popular social media app.
What about a representative?
A proxy server is another way to get around regional restrictions. Like a VPN, a proxy masks your IP address (your “home” address) to make it look like you’re located 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 each.
Florida joins the age-verification trend
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 3 into law in March 2024, although it took effect in early 2025. The bill focuses on preventing minors younger than 14 from becoming holders of social media accounts.
“In addition to protecting children from the dangers of social media, HB 3 requires pornographic or sexual websites to use age verification to prevent minors from accessing sites that are inappropriate for children,” DeSantis’ office said in a statement. last year.
Users must prove they are 18 years of age or older. Websites that do not 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. 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 passed 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 website Pornhub opted to go dark in states with age-verification laws, citing privacy concerns with the ID requirement.
Pornhub’s decision was apparent in a revised blog post in 2024, which included a map of popular search terms by state. Pornhub states no longer serving appeared grayed out on the US map. CNET did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo.
Interest in VPNs is growing
VPN review and advocacy site vpnMentor noted a sharp increase in demand for VPN services in Florida coinciding with the enactment of HB 3.
“The vpnMentor research team observed a significant increase in VPN usage across the state of Florida, with a spike seen in the early hours of January 1st steadily increasing since the last few minutes of 2024 and reaching its peak of 1,150% just four hours after HB 3 went into effect,” the organization said in a statement on Jan. 2.
VpnMentor saw similar growth when state bans on Pornhub began in Utah in 2023 and Texas in 2024.
Taking it to the Supreme Court
State-level age verification laws are facing legal challenges. The adult industry trade association Free Speech Coalition is active in the fight against age verification laws. The group sued Florida in December to block the new state law and has already 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 face, upload a photo ID, or give up their privacy to access internet,” said Alison Boden, Free Speech. The executive director of the coalition, in a statement on January 6.
A national precedent for state age verification laws may soon be set. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the Free Speech Coalition’s case against the Texas law. The court heard oral arguments on January 15. It could take months for the Supreme Court to issue a decision.
Choosing a VPN
VPNs have been around for a long time, but their growing 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, speed, 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 issue is forming around what mechanisms should be used or required to protect minors. VPNs will remain a hot topic, whether related to online pornography, general privacy or TikTok.
