The Internet Revolutionized Porn. Age Verification Could Upend Everything
Platforms like Pornhub and OnlyFans have given porn stars more autonomy. But sweeping age-check laws are already impacting their bottom lines. It’s a typical week for Dahl: demanding, a little all over the place, and very online, but one she’s totally in control of. She’s grateful for the autonomy the internet has given her over her career.
The Shift From Studio Control to Performer Independence
Dahl debuted in adult entertainment in 2012, with credits in projects by Vivid Entertainment, Naughty America, and Girlfriends Films. At the time, she says, the industry was still very much a boys club; she had no independence and even less say over the direction of her career. “It was like five CEOs who completely dictated what was attractive and what kind of person was allowed to become a porn star,” she says. “Performers were essentially at the bottom. I’d be on set for 12 hours all for one check, and there are no royalties in porn. The power dynamic was inverted compared to what it is now.”
Today, Dahl does a little bit of everything: girl on girl, solo and fetish content, naked workout videos, group scenes. She’s on “basically every fan platform”—Fansly, LoyalFans, and ManyVids, with OnlyFans being her “biggest income generator.” She also uploads free content to Pornhub, where she makes ad revenue based on views.
The Impact of New Age-Verification Laws
But that could come to a crashing end, with the widespread adoption of age-verification laws in the US and UK, which require visitors to upload an ID or other personal documentation to validate that they are not a minor before viewing sexually explicit material. Already Dahl has seen “an absolutely massive drop in traffic,” she says from her home in Los Angeles. “I’ve made 30 percent less money this year than I did last year.”
So far at least 24 US states have sanctioned some form of ID verification, each with unique stipulations. Legislators argue that these laws are intended to keep minors safe from content deemed harmful to them. Critics say that argument doesn’t hold any weight because there are “easy solutions” to the moral panic conservatives have created around the issue. They say the laws infringe on privacy rights and set an irreversibly dark precedent for the future of free speech.
Political Agendas and Future Restrictions
Perhaps even more terrifying is what it all signals: the death of the free web and an ushering in of a more puritanical version of America. That’s been a goal of Project 2025 all along. A line from the 900-page Heritage Foundation document, a right-wing blueprint of sorts for President Donald Trump’s second term, says “people who produce and distribute [porn] should be imprisoned.” In a video recording leaked last August by the Centre for Climate Reporting, Trump ally Russell Vought, who coauthored Project 2025, says the age verification laws are a “back door” route to a federal ban. “We’d have a national ban on pornography if we could,” says Vought.
The Battle Against Platform Censorship
Porn censorship has been an ongoing battle—payment processors like Mastercard, Visa, and PayPal have instituted strict controls around what is permissible. Instagram routinely kicks adult creators off its platform and, in 2022, removed Pornhub entirely. It’s “death by a thousand paper cuts,” says Alex Kekesi.
Summary of Industry Challenges and Data
- Financial Impact: Siri Dahl reported making 30 percent less money this year than last year.
- State Legislation: At least 24 US states have sanctioned some form of ID verification.
- Major Income Source: OnlyFans is identified as the biggest income generator for independent performers.
- Corporate Controls: Mastercard, Visa, and PayPal have instituted strict controls around permissible content.
- Platform Bans: Instagram removed Pornhub entirely in 2022.