Interest in VPNs is increasing for this reason, rated X

The new year brought with it new laws, most notably a Florida law requiring age verification to access websites with adult content. Florida is 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 — was blocked in Florida. VPN networksway 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 instead of being out in the open. VPNs encrypt your traffic and can hide your “home” address so sites can’t figure out where you really are. This is relevant to the rise in interest in VPNs in states that have enacted age-verification laws for access to adult online content. 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 valuable or sensitive personal and business data. Video streamers have long used VPNs to watch shows, movies or sports that may be locked to their own zones. TikTok fans are also exploring VPNs as a possible way around looming ban on the popular social media app.

How 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 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 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 bill aims to prevent minors under the age of 14 from becoming social media account holders.

“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,” DeSantis’ office said in a statement last year.

Users must prove they are 18 or older. Websites that do not 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 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 rolled out age-verification systems, major porn website Pornhub has chosen to hold off in states with age-verification laws, citing privacy concerns with the ID requirement.

Pornhub’s decision was evident in a 2024 Review Blog Post which included a map of popular search terms by country. 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 to a request for comment.

Interest in VPNs is growing

VPN review and advocacy site vpnMentor has seen a spike in demand for VPN services in Florida coinciding with the enactment of HB 3.

“vpnMentor’s research team observed a significant spike in VPN usage in the state of Florida, with a staggering increase seen in the early hours of January 1st, growing consistently since the final minutes of 2024 and peaking at 1,150% just four hours after the HB Act 3 entered into force”, the organization said in a statement dated Jan. 2.

VpnMentor saw similar spikes when state bans on Pornhub kicked in Utah in 2023 and Texas in 2024

Referral to the Supreme Court

State-level age verification laws face legal challenges. The adult industry trade association Free Speech Coalition has been 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 protecting minors from adult content is a laudable goal, the government has no right to force 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 Jan. 6 statement.

A national precedent for state age verification laws may soon be set. 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 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, speeds, and price. Check out CNET’s best 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 framed around what mechanisms should be used or required to protect these minors. VPNs will remain a hot topic, whether in relation to online pornography, general privacy or TikTok.