Many US states require adult sites to verify visitors' ages. In June 2025 the Supreme Court upheld Texas's law in a 6-3 decision, making similar laws easier to defend. Florida's attorney general announced a lawsuit against XVideos' operator in August 2025. Rules differ by state, outcomes may change, and this is not legal advice.
The short version
There is no single national rule in the United States. Instead, individual states have passed their own laws requiring websites with a large share of adult material to check that visitors are adults. Counts differ by tracker: one compilation reported 27 states in August 2026, while a broader tracker counted 29 states with some age-related law, including social-media rules.
Congress has not passed a federal requirement, so the patchwork remains.
What the Supreme Court decided
On 27 June 2025, in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Texas's law could stand. The majority applied intermediate scrutiny, a middle-level test, and concluded the law only incidentally burdens adults' protected speech while serving the state's interest in protecting children.
The decision also confirmed that a state may require age verification without banning adult content for grownups. In the Court's reasoning, the burden on adults, such as having to prove age, was considered modest compared with the interest in shielding children. Three justices dissented and argued that a stricter test should apply.
The ruling did not settle every question. Different states write their laws differently, and challenges about particular features can still be brought. But it made the basic idea much harder to knock down.
Florida and XVideos
Florida's law, known as HB 3, took effect on 1 January 2025 and requires operators of covered sites to verify that users are at least 18. It also expects an anonymous verification option to be offered.
On 5 August 2025, Florida's attorney general announced a lawsuit against several companies, including the operator of XVideos and the operator of a sister site. According to the state's announcement, the suit alleges violations of HB 3 and of Florida's consumer-protection law and seeks to compel compliance. The announcement did not state a dollar figure. News coverage at the time also reported that the site displayed a banner criticising age verification. As of the latest sources checked, a final outcome has not been confirmed.
Texas and other enforcement
Texas's attorney general has brought actions against other adult-site operators since the law took effect. Reporting in 2026 also describes the state using court orders aimed at internet infrastructure against a different adult site. This guide has not found a similar action against XVideos in Texas, so none is claimed here.
Penalties under these laws vary. Some are enforced by attorneys general, and some allow private lawsuits. Because each statute defines covered sites, safe harbours and technical standards differently, operators often analyse the rules state by state, and this is why a visitor in one state can see a gate that a visitor in the next state does not.
Another approach is withdrawal. After laws took effect, some large operators chose to block visitors from certain states rather than build checks, a choice that Pornhub's owner was reported to have made in Florida in early 2025.
How rules compare around the world
| Place | Approach | Self-declaration enough? |
|---|---|---|
| US states | State laws, enforced by attorneys general | Generally no |
| United Kingdom | Ofcom enforces Online Safety Act duties | No |
| European Union | DSA proceedings plus national laws | Commission says no |
| France | Arcom technical standard, double anonymity | No |
One difference worth noting is who checks the checker. In France the regulator published a detailed technical standard and expects an independent provider. In the UK, Ofcom has issued guidance on what counts as highly effective and has opened many investigations. In US states, the standard often comes from the statute itself, and enforcement follows complaints or lawsuits.
The direction is the same everywhere even if the tools differ.
What this means for you
If you live in a state with a covered law, expect an age gate that may ask for a selfie, document or other proof, or a message that the site is unavailable in your state. If you travel, the gate may change.
Privacy is the other live question. Some state laws require that data used for verification not be kept after the check, and Florida's law expects an anonymous option. Whether every provider lives up to such promises is something readers should judge from the privacy statement shown at the time.
Parents should not assume these laws make a device safe. They apply to site operators, and children can still reach unchecked sites or use workarounds. Combine them with device and router controls, and read the parents sections on this site.
Key takeaways
- No federal US law exists; age-verification rules come from individual states.
- The Supreme Court upheld Texas's law 6-3 on 27 June 2025 under intermediate scrutiny.
- Florida's attorney general announced a suit involving XVideos' operator in August 2025.
- Some operators chose to block states rather than comply.
- Counts of covered states vary by tracker, so check current information.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general information, not legal, financial or medical advice. Details about third-party services are based on public information and may change.