Why We’re Doing It
The digital revolution has been a disaster for children’s innocence and safety. Research suggests that many children are now exposed to online pornography by as young as 10 years old. Pornography halts brain development, lowers self-esteem, and normalizes sexual violence. It enslaves men and denigrates women. And the $100 billion pornography industry has failed to put in place any safeguards to keep children away from this harmful material. This simply cannot go on.
Every other adult business, both in the real world and online, uses some form of age verification to ensure that minors do not access their products. Porn companies shouldn’t be an exception. That’s why APP has been advocating for state and federal age verification requirements since 2019. As of July 2025, 24 states have passed legislation to protect children online and hold the pornography industry accountable.
The legal framework already exists within which we can tackle the online pornography crisis and defend the innocence of children. We must find the fortitude, finally, to do it.
— Terry Schilling, APP President, “How to Regulate Pornography,” First Things, November 2019
Our Impact
2019
APP began campaigning on this issue.
2022
Louisiana became the first state to enact age verification legislation.
2023
Texas passed similar legislation (H.B.1181) with the support and testimony of APP. This law would later be challenged in the historic case, Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton.
Metrics & Statistics
Polling results
83-14%
support enacting nation-wide age verification legislation.
APP/RMG, August 2023
75–25%
support Texas’ H.B.1181 and the later Paxton decision.
Marquette, July 2025
