The internet is no longer the Wild West. In the United States and around the world, online age verification laws are being used to keep kids from seeing harmful or age-inappropriate materials — a trend critics say creates a "less secure, less private and less free internet."

More than 20 states have passed verification laws, said The Associated Press . That could have "significant impacts on the speech and privacy rights of adults," said the Cato Institute's Jennifer Huddleston, because the only way to ensure people under 18 are not seeing restricted materials is to "also age verify everyone over the age 18." In the United Kingdom , a new verification law aimed at restricting access to pornography has prompted Reddit, X, Telegram and Bluesky to also implement age checks, said the

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