Age Verification Laws Push Adult DVD Sales Higher, Retailers Report
Age verification laws meant to protect minors online are driving adult consumers back to physical media, a rebound visible in retailer and distributor sales data.
Reporting from 1 source: GIGAZINE.
Age verification requirements on porn streaming sites in the UK, France, Italy, and about half of US states are pushing adult consumers back to physical media. A South Dakota shop owner reports DVD sales up 20 to 22 percent year over year. A distributor says orders from regulated states are rising. Industry figures note low compliance, with consumers turning to VPNs, foreign sites, and messaging apps.
Stores that had dropped DVDs entirely as streaming took over may now be seeing that decision reversed. David Eliason, who runs three adult shops in South Dakota, said DVD sales at his stores are up 20 to 22 percent year over year, with the state's age verification law the only explanation he can offer.
Louis Adams, sales director at distributor Pulse Distribution, said DVD orders from states with age verification laws are increasing, though he does not expect a full physical media comeback. The bump comes alongside signs the laws are not working as intended: Mike Stabile of the Free Speech Coalition said compliance is low, with consumers moving to foreign and pirate sites, buying and selling porn on Discord and Telegram, and using VPNs. UK VPN use rose more than tenfold after the Online Safety Act's age checks took effect.
Pornhub has pushed for device-level filtering, sending letters to Google, Apple, and Microsoft in 2025 and to US lawmakers in 2026.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.