The Age of Verification: How 2025 Reshaped the Internet – and What’s Coming Next
Half of the United States now requires age verification for accessing everything from adult content to social media. This isn’t a future dystopia; it’s the reality that solidified in 2025. But the rush to implement these measures, often framed as “online safety,” is proving to be a deeply flawed experiment, one that’s driving users towards less secure corners of the web and raising serious questions about privacy and free speech. The implications extend far beyond simply blocking access to certain websites; we’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how the internet operates, and the battle for its future is only just beginning.
The Backfire Effect: Censorship Doesn’t Work
Predictably, attempts to enforce age verification haven’t stopped anyone determined to access restricted content. Instead, they’ve simply rerouted traffic. Research from the New York Center for Social Media and Politics and the Phoenix Center confirms what digital rights advocates have warned for years: age verification laws are ineffective. Their data shows a significant drop in searches for platforms blocking access in states with these laws, coupled with a massive surge – a 1,150% increase in Florida alone – in demand for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
This isn’t a victory for safety; it’s a migration to less regulated spaces. When legitimate platforms comply with restrictive laws, users are pushed towards offshore sites and unregulated corners of the internet, often exposing themselves to greater risks. As the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has consistently argued, age verification doesn’t protect young people; it endangers them. You can find more information and resources at EFF’s Age Verification Resource Hub.
Beyond Adult Content: The Expanding Scope of Surveillance
The initial wave of legislation targeted adult content, but lawmakers quickly expanded their sights to social media. Laws requiring age verification and parental consent for users under 18 were passed in several states, only to be swiftly challenged in court for violating First Amendment rights. These challenges, while often successful in the short term, highlight a disturbing trend: the normalization of surveillance as a prerequisite for online participation.
But the reach doesn’t stop there. California and Minnesota now mandate warning labels on social media platforms, while Virginia’s SB 854 imposes time limits on younger users. These measures, while presented as safeguards, raise serious concerns about censorship and government overreach. A U.S. District Court temporarily halted Colorado’s warning label law in November 2025, signaling a growing judicial skepticism towards these types of regulations.
The Rise of Device-Level Verification and the Threat to Open Access
Perhaps the most concerning development of 2025 was the emergence of device-level and app-store age verification laws. California’s Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), for example, shifts the responsibility for verification to operating system providers, effectively creating a system where age checks are built into the very foundation of our devices. This isn’t just about restricting access to adult content; it’s about controlling access to all content, impacting the ability of users of all ages to access information freely.
Legal challenges are mounting. The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) have both filed lawsuits against Texas’s SB 2420, arguing that it’s unconstitutional and places undue burdens on platforms, developers, and users. These lawsuits underscore a critical point: the costs of age verification far outweigh any perceived benefits. The legal battles surrounding these laws are likely to continue for years to come, shaping the future of online access.
Rulemaking and the Devil in the Details
As states with existing laws move into the rulemaking phase, the specifics of implementation will become crucial. California’s Attorney General held a hearing in November to solicit public comment on age assurance standards, and the EFF submitted comments raising concerns about discriminatory impacts. Similarly, New York’s Attorney General released proposed rules for the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, prompting further opposition from the EFF. These rulemaking processes represent a critical opportunity to shape the future of age verification and mitigate its most harmful effects.
The Expanding Boundaries: From Skincare to VPNs
The scope of proposed age verification measures is expanding rapidly. Lawmakers are now considering bills to require ID checks for everything from skincare products to diet supplements. Even VPNs are under attack, with legislation proposed in Wisconsin and Michigan to ban their use for circumventing age verification laws. And with the rise of AI chatbots, it’s only a matter of time before age verification requirements are extended to these platforms as well. This relentless expansion reveals a broader agenda: a sweeping surveillance regime that threatens to reshape the internet as we know it.
The fight against age verification isn’t just about protecting access to specific types of content; it’s about preserving the fundamental principles of a free, open, and private internet. As we move into 2026, the stakes are higher than ever. What steps will you take to protect your digital rights? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
