Pornhub Blocks Access in 16 States as of January 1, 2025

As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2025, Pornhub, one of the world's largest adult content platforms, had blocked access in additional states - making it a total of 16 U.S. states.

These new laws require users to input their ID to access websites containing adult content, a requirement that Pornhub and its parent company, Aylo, have chosen to protest by getting rid of service entirely from the banned states.

What States Have Banned Pornhub?

As confirmed by a Pornhub, the site is now inaccessible in the following 16 states, many of which make up the Southern U.S.:

• Alabama

• Arkansas

• Florida

• Idaho

• Indiana

• Kansas

• Kentucky

• Mississippi

• Montana

• Nebraska

• North Carolina

• Oklahoma

• South Carolina

• Texas

• Utah

• Virginia

The Spread of Age Verification Laws

The move towards stricter online age verification began two years ago when Louisiana became the first state to enact it. Louisiana's approach requires users to present identification to access adult content sites and has since been adopted by several other states.

While Pornhub is still accessible in Louisiana with identification, the site has opted to withdrawal completely from other states with these laws. Since implementing this requirement, Pornhub's traffic has decreased around 80% in Louisana.

"These people did not stop looking for porn. They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don't ask users to verify age, that don't follow the law, that don't take user safety seriously, and that often don't even moderate content. In practice, the laws have just made the internet more dangerous for adults and children," Aylo stated.

Pornhub's parent company continue their statement supporting age verification for users, however, condoning for the user's privacy.

Last month, a trade group representing the adult entertainment industry filed a federal lawsuit attempting to strike down Florida's new law. The lawsuit claims that the age verification requirements violate free speech rights and could compromise users' personal information.

How to Watch Pornhub in Florida

As access to popular adult content sites becomes more restricted, many users are looking for different methods to bypass the blocks. In Florida, for example, Google searches for online tools like VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) have surged following Pornhub's withdrawal from the state.

Without software such as a VPN, it can be harder for users to remain anonymous on these sites, which some experts believe is a slippery slope to endangering free speech.

Pornhub isn't the only adult content site that has affected by this new law, though. Sites such as Redtube, YouPorn, and Tube8 have also blocked user access in Florida without identification. However, other sites such as Spankbang has started using AI age detection.

Whichever site a user decides to visit in the currently blocked states, the most reliable method to accessing adult content is a VPN. While a VPN makes watching adult content easier, they also can be beneficial in other ways.

Benefits of a VPN

Along with 15 other states in the U.S., Florida's ban on Pornhub is already in effect. Aside from just allowing access to these sites, you might want to consider using a VPN in other ways:

• Protect browsing privacy:

  • VPNs use strong encryption (AES-256, ChaCha20)

  • Conceals internet activity from ISPs

  • Enables discreet access to adult content

• Boost online security:

  • Adds protection layer on public Wi-Fi

  • Reduces risk of unauthorized access on open networks

• Prevent ISP bandwidth manipulation:

  • Masks user's IP address

  • Stops ISPs from throttling connection

  • Ensures smooth streaming on adult sites

• Overcome geographical restrictions:

  • Bypasses regional content blocks

  • Allows access to diverse streaming platforms

  • Useful for circumventing local bans (e.g., Florida's upcoming restrictions)

The Debate Over Effectiveness and Privacy

Advocates for age verification laws argue that they are necessary to protect minors from accessing inappropriate content online. However, critics, including Pornhub, argue that these measures are ineffective and potentially harmful.

In states with blocked access, Pornhub displays a message claiming that the state's approach is "ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous." The company argues that a more effective solution would be to verify users' ages on their devices and deny or allow access to age-restricted materials based on that verification.

Pornhub warns that such legislation may push users towards less reputable sites, which could put both minors and adults at greater risk in terms of privacy and data security.

Legal Challenges

These age verification laws has not gone unchallenged. The Free Speech Coalition, along with various adult platforms including Aylo, has initiated lawsuits in several states, including Florida, Louisiana, Utah, Texas, and Virginia.

For example, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, is set to be heard by the United States Supreme Court in 2025, potentially setting a precedent for how these laws will be interpreted and enforced moving forward.

The coalition argues that these regulations effectively amount to state censorship, creating a chilling effect for those who speak about or engage with issues related to sex or sexuality.

The coming months and years will likely see some legal battles, technological loopholes, and strategies from both sides of the debate. As this situation unfolds, it will undoubtedly have lasting implications for internet regulation, user privacy, and the future of online content access in the United States.

For now, users in affected states are left to navigate this new landscape, whether by complying with age verification requirements, seeking alternative platforms, or utilizing VPNs to bypass restrictions. As the debate continues, the balance between protecting minors and preserving adult freedoms in the digital age remains a complex and contentious issue.