"2025 was the year age verification went from a fringe policy experiment to a sweeping reality across the United States. Half of the U.S. now mandates age verification for accessing adult content or social media platforms. Nine states saw their laws take effect this year alone, with more coming in 2026. The good news is that courts have blocked many of the laws seeking to impose age-verification gates on social media, largely for the same reasons that EFF opposes these efforts."
"Age-verification measures censor the internet and burden access to online speech. Though age-verification mandates are often touted as " online safety " measures for young people, the laws actually do more harm than good . They undermine the fundamental speech rights of adults and young people alike , create new barriers to internet access, and put at risk all internet users' privacy, , and ."
"If you're feeling overwhelmed by this onslaught of laws and the invasive technologies behind them, you're not alone. That's why we've launched EFF's Age Verification Resource Hub at -a one-stop shop to understand what these laws actually do, what's at stake, why EFF opposes all forms of age verification, how to protect yourself, and how to join the fight for a free, open, private, and safe internet."
In 2025 age verification became widespread across the United States, with half the country now requiring verification to access adult content or social media. Nine states enacted adult-content age verification laws that took effect in 2025, with more expected in 2026. Courts have blocked many social-media age-verification laws, citing censorship and burdens on online speech. Age-verification mandates pose privacy risks, create access barriers, and undermine speech rights for adults and young people. EFF launched an Age Verification Resource Hub to explain the laws, offer protections, and coordinate opposition and legal challenges.
Read at Electronic Frontier Foundation
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