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Pornhub pulls out of Florida, VPN demand 'surges 1150%'
- saomcomrad56 2y agoFlorida man will always find a way
- gnabgib 2y agoRelated Searches for VPNs spike in Texas after Pornhub pulls out of the state (3 points, 10 months ago, no comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39748715 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39748715 Searches for VPN Soar in Utah Amidst Pornhub Blockage (217 points, 2 years ago, 289 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35807408 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35807408 The spike was detected/reported by one site only (https://www.vpnmentor.com/news/vpn-demand-surge-florida/ https://www.vpnmentor.com/news/vpn-demand-surge-florida/). Nice SEO for them. Note vpnMentor is pretty obscure, the NYT/Wirecutter didn't include it in a recent roundup [The Best VPN Service (2024)](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-vpn-service/ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-vpn-service/)
- guidedlight 2y agoIf someone is mature enough to know what a VPN is and to configure and operate it, then they have likely validated they are not a minor. So in a way, using a VPN is an indirect proof of age.
- elashri 2y agoThe demand is of commercial VPN services which provides apps that can be used by anyone. Using social media would be more complicated in comparison. What you say is true if people are renting VPS and provision their own wireguard/openVPN server and configure the client.
- bdangubic 2y agoyou might be underestimating the tech savvyness of today’s youth :) though for sure you made me wonder if the solution to keeping anonimity while verifying proof of age may light in something unorthodox like “if you can ___ you must be of age…”
- interstice 2y agoWe used proxies to get newgrounds in highschool around 2004, take from that what you will
- Peacefulz 2y agoWhen I was 12 I was chaining proxies to play runescape at school. With how many content creators picked up a nordvpn promotion, I would be surprised if the youth doesn't at least have a vague idea. TOR doesn't care about the block either, which I'm sure more and more people have become aware of.
- chmod775 2y agoThat's a questionable thing to say on a page where a decent amount of users got into coding at around age 13. Sure, tech literacy has taken a massive step back, but given how easy modern consumer VPNs are to use, I don't doubt most would manage.
- fred_is_fred 2y agoYou can configure it by installing an iOS app and making an account. We're not talking about running your own.
- naming_the_user 2y agoEr, yeah, about that. Prior to Facebook and pals getting really big and the money rolling in, pretty much every software developer I knew was someone who got into computing as an early teen. My parents got an old hand me down computer and I was writing C before we even got dial-up internet.
- GuB-42 2y agoKids may not know how a VPN works under the hood, but they are really good (and fearless) at trying out stuff until it works. Also, kids can communicate, and whoever manages to find a recipe that works will spread it quickly.
- bdcravens 2y agoMost VPN services have zero-config apps, other than installing the app and logging in.
- SpaghettiCthulu 2y agoAnd some don't even require you to log in. For example, Proton VPN has a completely free and anonymous tier.
- add-sub-mul-div 2y agoThere's a logic to that, but in 2025 we shouldn't still be falling for the pretense that this is really about protecting children.
- anonzzzies 2y agoMy 9 year old nephew downloads torrents via vpn.
- numpad0 2y ago"VPN" used in context of current day casual Internet conversations refer to paid Web proxy services that typically offer automagic client apps, not VPN technology itself or its traditional use cases.
- andrewmcwatters 2y agoxB Browser was incredibly popular with children.
- eviks 2y agoSince any kid can download an app and click "connect", there is 0 validation
- nxhshzbs 2y agoMshydjdydhdju
- black_13 2y ago[dead]
- npvrite 2y agoOnly use VPNs that accept XMR and require no personal info. https://www.privacyguides.org/en/vpn/ https://www.privacyguides.org/en/vpn/
- diggan 2y agoOr even better, VPNs who accepts cash in envelopes. Mullvad (also on your list) does this, as one example.
- SR2Z 2y agoMullvad's technical competence and privacy features have gotten it blocked by pretty much every large company lol
- alphan0n 2y agoAren’t you just effectively tying your real identity (from your ISP) to your crypto assets? At that point, why not just buy a vps with crypto? Then you would at least be in control of the logging.
- poincaredisk 2y agoVPS is usually significantly more expensive (hostings that offer xmr payment are also not the cheapest ones), and less flexible (you can't choose your exit point country). And your anonymity set is... one. VPS have their uses and VPNs have theirs, they are used for different things.
- akimbostrawman 2y agoMonero/XMR isn't Bitcoin. Its fungible and there is no "tying assets" by design. https://www.getmonero.org/get-started/what-is-monero/ https://www.getmonero.org/get-started/what-is-monero/
- noisycarlos 2y agoI wonder how many people will be getting scammed or infected by malicious 'free' VPNs. Most people affected by this (minors) won't have a credit card to pay for legit VPNs
- floppiplopp 2y agoWhenever I see VPN, I think: Is it tied to a government intelligence agency? Is it owned by a government intelligence agency? All your traffic is routed through a single, easily observable point. If I were an intelligence agency, I would have VPN services as a business, and I would constantly advertise aggressively how secure and private they are. Anyways, I really hope the US bans porn on a federal level. I have big plans for a second hand, slightly sticky VHS mail order business.
- GaryNumanVevo 2y agoIn what world would the TLAs need to setup this convoluted scheme? They already wiretap most of the US's internet traffic through your ISP already.
- SR2Z 2y agoThey can't tap VPN traffic at the ISP level, it's encrypted.
- codelikeawolf 2y agoI can't say I'm surprised. I think it's hilarious and fitting that news outlets are referring to Pornhub blocking access as "pulling out". I can't wait to see what term they use to describe unblocking access (if it ever happens).
- ty5fqaya 2y agoI love sex
- ty5fqaya 2y agoI love sex and sperm
- dede23fahru25 2y agoXnxx jepang
- 09104983938 2y agoPurn hub
- Dawan 2y agoI want the money for my you to
- Dawan 2y agomy mom and so she saad my you to is my add and song kids
- gdyheghz 2y agoVideo sex
- CHARLESJIN 2y agoHEYYYYY
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- Kupal 2y agoBurat
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- Entsman1968 2y agoUpdate. New I phone
- maricaragbayani 2y agohggikmgggghhhh
- parwana123 2y ago[dead]
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- parwana123 2y ago[dead]