vpnMentor’s research team revealed how age verification laws, geo-blocking, and user behavior are driving increased VPN demand and reshaping online privacy and content access in the U.S.
The introduction of age verification for adult content websites has caused a surge in VPN usage, with states like Florida (1,150 percent), Oklahoma (1,060 percent), and Utah (967 percent) experiencing significant increases.
Pornhub, one of the largest adult content platforms, applied age verification only in Louisiana and implemented IP-blocking in other states with similar laws, leading to higher VPN usage and record-breaking traffic of over 1.8 billion visits by late 2024.
Despite losing 15 million U.S. visits due to geo-blocking in 18 states, Pornhub gained over 150 million visits globally, with Mexico contributing 39 million in December 2024.
The U.S. demand for VPN services grew 30 percent in early 2025 compared to late 2024, spiking to 1,566 percent during a brief TikTok ban. VPNs enable users to bypass restrictions, but this reliance on privacy tools raises security concerns, especially with free or unsecure VPNs.
Data breaches have exposed sensitive user information, including email addresses, passwords, payment details, and device data, highlighting risks of identity theft, fraud, and unauthorized surveillance. Instances of leaked data from no-logs VPNs underline vulnerabilities and the need for stronger privacy measures.
