Pornhub blocks access in one state due to age rule. Is social media next?

KARAH RUCKER: PORNHUB IS NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS IN ONE STATE AFTER NEW STATE LAWS FORCE THE ADULT CONTENT SITE TO VERIFY A USER’S AGE.

SO WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF MAKING SURE ITS USERS ARE 18 AND OLDER – THE COMPANY DECIDED TO DISABLE ACCESS TO THEIR WEBSITE IN UTAH.

THE MOVE COMES IN RESPONSE TO UTAH’S AGE VERIFICATION LAW, WHICH PASSED IN MARCH AND GOES INTO EFFECT THIS WEEK. THE NEW LAW REQUIRES WEBSITES WITH ADULT CONTENT TO VERIFY A USER’S AGE BEFORE ALLOWING THEM ACCESS. 

PORNHUB’S TERMS OF SERVICE REQUIRE USERS TO BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER TO USE THE SITE. UTAH’S NEW LAW REQUIRES PORNHUB TO VERIFY ALL UTAH USERS’ AGES, AND BLOCK ACCOUNTS OF USERS WHO DON’T SUPPLY AGE VERIFICATION. 

FOR NOW — NOBODY HAS ACCESS TO THE SITE UNTIL PORNHUB DECIDES WHETHER OR NOT TO START A VERIFICATION PROCESS — LIKE HOW THEY’RE CURRENTLY DOING IN LOUISIANA.

PART OF UTAH’S LAW — WILL ALSO BE REQUIRING SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES TO VERIFY ALL UTAH USERS AGES – TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN AREN’T ACCESSING THEIR SITES. THAT LAW WON’T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL MARCH FIRST 2024.

BUT WILL PORNHUB BE THE PRECEDENT — WHERE THE WORKAROUND FOR THE COMPANIES IS TO DISABLE ACCESS FOR EVERYONE IN ORDER TO AVOID AGE VERIFICATION.