Arkansas passed legislation requiring websites to implement age-verification systems to restrict access for minors. The law took effect on Monday, July 31, 2023, which mandated popular explicit platforms to verify users' ages using government-issued identification. Non-compliant sites face substantial fines or access bans. Supporters argue the law protects children from harmful material, aligning with the state's conservative values. However, critics point to issues like potential breaches of user privacy and the rise in VPN usage to circumvent the restrictions.
Sen. Tyler Dees, R-Siloam Springs, submitted Senate Bill 66, which received a vote of 77-4 with 14 members voting present. Rep. Stephen Meeks, R-Greenbrier, argued the he was concerned it could lead to identity theft. "Are we creating an excuse for these websites that may and many times are not located in our country to put up a portal requiring an Arkansas citizen to give their personally identifiable data?"
Google searches for "free VPNs" skyrocketed after Florida's ban on user-favorite sites took effect on January 1, 2025. Titled House Bill 3 "Online Protections for Minors," it bans a slew of social media-related actions for minors, including "creating new accounts" and any site with certain content to use age verification systems. If sites don't comply, they face up to $50,000 in fines per violation.
According to Tallahassee Democrat, "A large number of websites are either outright blocking access in the state, citing security risks for users' personal information, or are just ignoring the new law." Despite the legal threats, many users have simply switched to VPNs that let them alter their IP addresses and bypass regional restrictions.
Texas passed HB-1181 on June 12, 2023, requiring sites to verify users' ages by uploading government-issued IDs to the sites. While proponents view this as a win for family values, critics highlight privacy concerns and the law’s effectiveness, as many Texans now use VPNs to bypass restrictions and refuse to upload their private information to random websites.
As reported on ZealousAdvocate.com, one critic commented, “Oh yeah, that’s real safe. Lawmakers do not understand technology. ” In fact, VPN usage "surged more than 234%" just one day after the law took effect, with overall searches for "Texas VPN" increased by 1,750%.
Alabama state Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, introduced HB-164 during the 2024 legislative session that "forces distributors of [explicit] material to verify users are 18 years of age or older before accessing explicit content." Also, these websites are required to display health warnings, such as impairment of brain development and addiction.
Similarly, a helpline number is required on the landing page for the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Any site that violates the law will be subject to fines of up to $10,000; many websites have opted out from operating in the state entirely.
Georgia Senate Bill 351 will take effect July 1, 2025, titled "Protecting Georgia's Children on Social Media Act of 2024." Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill in April 2024, claiming that the goal is to "promote 'safe and appropriate' use of technology, especially to young people," according to The Augusta Chronicle. Users view it as a ban on their favorite websites, as it requires sites with "a substantial portion of material that is harmful to minors" to implement age verification systems.
Other bill requirements include making The Department of Education develop model programs for educating students regarding online safety while using the Internet; having local school boards implement programs in all grade levels discouraging bullying and promoting responsible digital citizenship; and social media platforms won't permit minor users without a parent or guardian's express consent.
September 29, 2023, North Carolina passed the Age Verification Enforcement Act (PAVE Act), which "specifies that any commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of such material must, through use of (1) a commercially available database regularly used by businesses or governmental entities for the purpose of age and identity verification or (2) another commercially reasonable method of age and identity verification, verify the age of the individuals attempting to access the material."
According to The News & Observer, "The new law does not require sites to cut access to users but does say that users will be allowed to sue sites if their information is retained, which would be in violation of the law. Parents or guardians whose minor child is allowed access will also be able to sue."
Idaho enacted HB-498 — titled "LIABILITY FOR PUBLISHERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF MATERIAL HARMFUL TO MINORS ON THE INTERNET" — on July 1, 2024. According to the Idaho Legislature, the new law "adds to existing law to establish provisions to protect minors from harmful material on the internet."
State Representative Julianne Young sponsored the age-verification bill, saying, "I think this was one of the most exciting bipartisan efforts in the legislature this year to support and protect Idaho kids... It's a problem that's recognized nationwide, and that states all across the country are taking steps to address."
Louisiana HB-142, Act 440, "requires users to prove their age with a government-issued ID or driver’s license" before accessing their favorite 'incognito-tab' sites. This means that even residents over 18 will have to provide government identification before spending quality alone time with their computers.
Unfortunately for them, their favorite sites have likely blocked access for Louisiana residents to avoid the threatened fines and lawsuits. Cybernews reports that these age-verification sites are "easily hackable, posing a risk of sensitive info falling into the wrong hands for ransomware attacks. Overall, [the ban] isn't just about keeping things away from the underage crowd; it's a serious privacy breach that demands attention."
Mississippi passed its site restrictions on July 1, 2023, requiring platforms to verify users’ ages. The law was introduced to protect minors and promote conservative family values. However, critics argue that the legislation infringes on individual freedoms and is largely ineffective due to the widespread use of VPNs to bypass the restrictions.
A similar bill says vendors providing online resources or databases to K-12 schools must block access to these sites as well. Despite a federal judge briefly halting the law from taking effect and NetChoice Litigation Center director arguing that "Mississippians have a First Amendment right to access lawful information online free from government censorship," the law passed.
Indiana’s Republican Governor Eric Holcomb signed an age-restriciton law in March 2024, stating that legal action can be taken against websites if material deemed "harmful to minors" is at all accessible to minors.
The Free Speech Coalition challenged the law, arguing that it was "unenforceable and unconstitutional," as reported by AP News. "The group is asking a federal judge in Indianapolis to issue a preliminary injunction against the law before it takes effect on July 1 and to block the law permanently." Unfortunately for them, the Coalition's agenda failed.
The Kansas House of Representatives passed their age-verification law 92-31, and the Senate unanimously approved it before Democrat Governor Laura Kelly passed it. According to the law, if certain websites fail to verify that a Kansas visitor is 18 or if the website has material “harmful to minors," the attorney general can fine of up to $10,000 for each violation or parents can at least $50,000 in damages.
According to AP News, critics are wary that the bill won't target LGBTQ resources, too. Rep. Brandon Woodard, who is gay and a Kansas City Democrat, fears that "being who were are" will be defined as harmful under the new law.
Montana Senator Willis Curdy sponsored Bill 544, claiming he merely wants "to protect kids," according to the Daily Montanan. "“I’m not a big fan of censorship. I’m opposed to it,” Curdy said. “But we do restrict kids’ access to a number of things. So this is what the effort is.”
The affected sites blocked the state entirely, which Curdy claims is a "copout" because they refuse to "make the effort." However, the top sites argue that these ID laws are ineffective and pose a huge privacy risk for innocent users over 18. The biggest site wrote, “Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Montana.”
Like every other state's law, Nebraska's Legislative Bill 1092 "The Online Age Verification Liability Act" requires popular websites to verify user's ages using ID cards or sensitive documents, including anything from employee records to mortgages and bank statements. State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil proposed the bill, stating that sensitive online material is "not good for anyone."
The law took effect on Friday, July 19, 2024, and defines "material harmful to minors" as "something the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to or is designed to pander to the prurient interest." State Senator Carol Blood in Bellevue criticized the bill, arguing that it puts user data at risk instead of actually limiting youth access.
Oklahoma passed its adult website restrictions in 2023, and the law took affect November 1, 2024. It mandates age-verification systems for explicit platform, aiming to protect minors. As reported by AP News, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, who sponsored the legislation, said harmful content is "dramatically more available now than when 'there might be a sixth-grade boy who would find a... magazine in a ditch somewhere.'"
“What is commonplace in our society is for a child to be alone with their digital device in their bedroom,” said Hasenbeck. Sen. Jerry Alvord, R-Wilson, authored the bill, saying, "[Hasenbeck's] support and true concern for passing this child protection bill has been truly impressive. There have been many talented people working behind the scenes to make this happen."
Utah led the charge in restricting adult websites, passing its law in early 2023. The legislation requires users to verify their age with official documentation, aligning with the state’s Mormon values. The Free Speech Coalition sued the state on behalf of critics, but U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart threw out their case, refusing discrimination, privacy, and free speech concerns.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes called age verification requirements “reasonable safeguards for our children," as reported by AP News. “The innocence and safety of our children are paramount and worth protecting ardently."
Like most southern states, Virginia residents must provide a government-issued ID to access websites with specific content starting July 1, 2023. Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed SB1515 into law in May 2023, but critics claim the specifics of the law don't protect children that much, but rather block access to everyone. Common Sense Media said 58% of teens aged 13-17 have seen such content accidentally on social media, not specific websites.
"These laws give the state the power to harass and censor legal businesses," said Alison Boden, executive director of Free Speech Coalition. "We, of course, support keeping minors from accessing [certain] content but allowing the state to suppress certain speech by requiring invasive and burdensome systems that consumers refuse to engage in is simply state censorship."
