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Original poster

Porn age checks - Surely a good thing?

289 replies

Vimtolady · 25/07/2025 07:36

Just read a ‘debate’ on the BBC News website about the pros and cons of age verification of porn websites. Weirdly I was verified for the first time myself last night (I am a porn user but not all the time) so was interested to read it.

j get that it was a debate but I honestly don’t see how anyone could object. Last night I wasn’t expecting to be verified but the process was simple, took about a minute and I don’t think I’d have easily been able to circumvent it. Obviously there are security concerns but no more so than with any other website.

I think these checks are great! My eldest DC is 13 so probably getting to (or at) the age when porn might become interesting to her, and this would make it much more difficult to access which would doubtless be a good thing, no?

Does anyone disagree?! I’d be interested to hear arguments against because I can’t really think of any and that makes me suspicious I’m being narrow minded.

OP posts:
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Gobacktotheworld · 07/08/2025 01:38

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

eatfigs · 07/08/2025 00:41

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

Where does the OSA say that?

Gobacktotheworld · 07/08/2025 00:36

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

eatfigs · 07/08/2025 00:03

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 23:43

Choosing to ignore all the sites which are legitimate but are behind age barriers now then?

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Do you have any examples of a site that has an age barrier but doesn't need to? If so you should contact the owner and let them know they've misunderstood the OSA.

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 23:59

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 23:42

Nope

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Yes if they have your licence plate on camera they can get your name and address from the DVLA. Which is even more of an identity reveal than just uploading a selfie video.

LlamaNoDrama · 06/08/2025 23:49

I had to age verify on YouTube to watch a music video with the word fuck in this week. I use a vpn too.

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 23:45

WunTooThree · 06/08/2025 23:39

Self harm support sites are asking for ID now... it is not just people over 18 who self harm.

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Exactly

They've gone for "better to be safe than sorry"

Making it harder for teens to find the legit help they might need but not want to tell their parents about

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 23:43

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 23:33

That's up to the website owner to assess if their site has material unsuitable for children. The OSA doesn't say put an age gate on every site. MN hasn't got one for example.

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Choosing to ignore all the sites which are legitimate but are behind age barriers now then?

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 23:42

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 23:30

Right so it's more like traffic cameras taking a photo of your car while you're driving it.

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Nope

WunTooThree · 06/08/2025 23:39

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 23:27

And before lots of non porn, very legit, not adult websites. That's the point

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Self harm support sites are asking for ID now... it is not just people over 18 who self harm.

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 23:33

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 23:27

And before lots of non porn, very legit, not adult websites. That's the point

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That's up to the website owner to assess if their site has material unsuitable for children. The OSA doesn't say put an age gate on every site. MN hasn't got one for example.

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 23:30

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 23:26

They are literally asking you to link your personal data and face to the websites you visit

Yes it is

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Right so it's more like traffic cameras taking a photo of your car while you're driving it.

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 23:27

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 23:04

It doesn't ban it, it compels website owners to put an age gate in front.

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And before lots of non porn, very legit, not adult websites. That's the point

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 23:26

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 23:02

How is this like an internal camera for your car? The OSA isn't making phone companies put monitoring apps on your phone.

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They are literally asking you to link your personal data and face to the websites you visit

Yes it is

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 23:04

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 21:24

But it's not JUST those websites

Keep drinking the "it bans porn so it's good" Koop Aid though

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It doesn't ban it, it compels website owners to put an age gate in front.

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 23:02

ntmdino · 06/08/2025 21:26

The corresponding argument is, "Too many people are speeding, so we're going to add an internal camera to every car and take a photo of the driver every time it goes within 3mph of a speed limit and record the GPS data with the photo. We pinky promise we won't use it to map where you've been going (except under specific circumstances, but if you've nothing to hide you've nothing to fear), and we're going to strongly suggest that our third party providers store it so securely (for statistics, you understand) that it will definitely not be leaked anywhere, and they really definitely won't use that information for themselves because we asked them nicely".

Edited
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How is this like an internal camera for your car? The OSA isn't making phone companies put monitoring apps on your phone.

FrippEnos · 06/08/2025 22:50

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 20:23

That's like saying speed limits "don't work" because some people still speed.

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It really isn't see ntmdino's post Today 21:26.

See also black box usage by insurance companies and how tightly regulated they are.

BewareTheHunted · 06/08/2025 21:56

Seems a bit pointless, a free vpn app can be downloaded within 30 seconds. Most primary aged kids know this by now, they are a lot more tech savvy than alot of adults.
Id love to see tighter restrictions on porn and adult content but this isn’t it.

ntmdino · 06/08/2025 21:29

brunettemic · 06/08/2025 20:26

In theory it’s a half decent idea. My issue is it’s yet another thing where people assume part of their job as parents is being done for them. There’s also other potential risks such as increased dark web usage (which happened straight away) and that can expose people to far more.

Not just dark web usage. Whole ID verification datasets started appearing for sale on the dark web on day two.

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 21:27

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 20:18

That's a choice made by these fitness forums, isn't it? The OSA doesn't ban children from seeing warning about steroid abuse.

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If they are worried they might just potentially be in breach then they will implement the extra measures rather than risk a very hefty fine

Presumably their concern is the "showing bodies" being called porn

ntmdino · 06/08/2025 21:26

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 20:23

That's like saying speed limits "don't work" because some people still speed.

Show quote history

The corresponding argument is, "Too many people are speeding, so we're going to add an internal camera to every car and take a photo of the driver every time it goes within 3mph of a speed limit and record the GPS data with the photo. We pinky promise we won't use it to map where you've been going (except under specific circumstances, but if you've nothing to hide you've nothing to fear), and we're going to strongly suggest that our third party providers store it so securely (for statistics, you understand) that it will definitely not be leaked anywhere, and they really definitely won't use that information for themselves because we asked them nicely".

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 21:24

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 20:20

That's a positive for the OSA then, those websites should be age-gated.

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But it's not JUST those websites

Keep drinking the "it bans porn so it's good" Koop Aid though

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 06/08/2025 21:21

CVVFan · 06/08/2025 16:10

I’ve done the Reddit verification and it’s still anonymous!

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You cannot be anonymous if you prove your ID

brunettemic · 06/08/2025 20:26

In theory it’s a half decent idea. My issue is it’s yet another thing where people assume part of their job as parents is being done for them. There’s also other potential risks such as increased dark web usage (which happened straight away) and that can expose people to far more.

eatfigs · 06/08/2025 20:23

FrippEnos · 06/08/2025 10:23

Something was done ages ago, through your internet provider.
Posters were told then that it wouldn't work and it didn't
So here we are with another system that won't work.
We already have posters telling you how your DC will get around it, and MPs now putting forward ideas to ban VPNs.
So that everybody's freedoms are curtailed "for the sake of the children".
But this won't stop parents from buying their children smart phones.
or not putting blocks on systems at home or watching their children whilst on the internet.

@PersephoneSeethes so yes it is down to the parents all of them. Did you report the boy to the school for showing your DS porn?
Do his parents know or even care?

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That's like saying speed limits "don't work" because some people still speed.

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