Pornhub, the world’s largest adult website, has announced that it will cease operations in Florida beginning Jan. 1, 2025, in response to a new age verification law set to take effect.
The law, HB3, requires websites hosting content deemed “harmful to minors” to implement age verification systems, such as requiring users to upload government-issued identification to prove they are at least 18 years old.
Visitors to Pornhub from Florida are now greeted with a pop-up message: “YOU WILL LOSE ACCESS TO PORNHUB IN 14 DAYS. Did you know that your government wants you to give your driver’s license before you can access PORNHUB? As crazy as it sounds, it’s true. You’ll be required to prove you are 18 years or older, such as by uploading your government ID, for every adult content website you’d like to access.”
Florida’s law mirrors similar legislation passed in 10 other states: Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas, Montana, North Carolina, Arkansas, Utah, Mississippi, Virginia and Louisiana. In these states, a citizen who wants to access an adult website has to prove they’re 18 years old by showing a government ID.
And the law seems to be driving people away from Pornhub. According to a 2024 report, when Louisiana implemented a similar age verification law in 2023, Pornhub complied and reported an 80% drop in traffic from the state.
More states are expected to enact similar age verification laws in the coming years.
