Most Americans Want Age Verification on Porn Sites, Study Shows
By Movieguide® Contributor
A recent poll from the American Principles Project (APP) found that 83% of American voters would support nationwide legislation requiring age verification on pornography websites.
The poll was conducted as pressure to require age verification on pornography websites has increased in the past year. Seven states have already passed laws requiring websites with pornographic content to verify a user’s age. The APP has been one of the biggest proponents of these laws.
“It should come as not shock that Americans don’t want their kids watching porn,” APP President Terry Schilling said in response to the poll data. “Beyond being simple common sense, the evidence is overwhelming that early exposure to sexual content can lead to many terrible consequences for a child’s mental and even physical health. Keeping them off porn sites is clearly a no-brainer.”
“Unfortunately, for too long, our lawmakers ignored the problem while access to online porn exploded among minors. But now, that’s finally changing. Despite the gaslighting by the porn industry, legislators are recognizing that action needs to be taken to safeguard our kids, and as this latest poll shows, Americans of all political stripes are behind them,” he continued.
“We expect a massive surge of age-verification laws being enacted in the near future, and we will continue to press forward until children are protected in all 50 states,” Schilling added.
Even before the widespread distribution of pornographic material across the internet, children under 18 were widely exposed to porn. Movieguide® reported that a study from 1988 found that 91% of male and 82% of female teenagers under the age of 18 had seen pornography.
Now, with easy access to porn sites, this already high stat is surely higher. However, an age-verification system would certainly help take it down.
Meanwhile, pornography sites are disputing the age verification laws, claiming they violate users’ privacy. In reality, a leaked memo reveals that age verification could cost the sites up to 50% of their traffic.
To boycott these age verification laws, popular pornography site Pornhub has blocked users from accessing its site in states where verification laws have been passed.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Adult sexual media website Pornhub recently blocked all Utah-based IP addresses from accessing their site to protest a new state law that would require adult websites to verify their users’ age before allowing them access to the site.
Anyone from Utah visiting the site will be met with the notice that the platform has “made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Utah.”
Utah’s state senate passed legislation earlier this year to require all adult sites to verify a user’s age before allowing them access. Utah’s Gov., Spencer Cox, signed this bill into law late last March, and it went into effect on May 2nd.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
