Are sites better off ignoring age verification?
 

I noticed some sites you go on (I am in the UK) have she verification and others are not bothered about adding it.

I suspect those who are ignoring it are making a LOT more sales that those who have it and find most people just leave.

It reminds me of ATVOD days in the UK (it was when only sites owned by those in the UK regardless of porn or not) but uploaded films from the UK had to pay ATVOD a fee and comply with lots of rules. The sites that did comply ended up closing or not making many sales. While those who just ignored ATVOD seem to be around today.

I suspect that those who comply with age verification will get much less sales and some sites will close or just be sold on to others. While those who ignore Age Verification will probably get more sales.

I wonder if there is a way for Ofcom to enforce a penalty internationally regarding age verification, and what international law says about it.

From what I know they only have the authority to put pressure on Mastercard/Visa to disrupt billing, and to block websites in the UK. So, I guess simply geo-blocking the UK with a message rather than complying is the alternative, if that makes you happy.

England is only one of abt 200 nations. they can't even get the whole world to drive on the left.

This is the wrong place to ask that man..

If you're asking if UK based webmasters should ignore it - probably not a good idea. In fact, I'd say it's probably not a good idea to run any adult site, age verification or not, from the UK given that they are introducing new laws every year (for example, publishing "stepfamily porn" or "barely legal" porn will now carry five year jail terms).

If you're asking if non-UK webmasters should comply - how many countries are NOT going to have age verification laws in a couple of years time? The EU will have them possibly by the end of this summer. How many adult German sites chose not to comply when they introduced strict age verification years ago? I remember reading a thread here on that topic and somebody mentioned that the reason was that other German adult webmasters would simply snitch on anyone who wasn't complying.

While you are likely right that ignoring AV leads to short-term sales growth, the "long game" has become much more dangerous. In 2026, the choice isn't just about losing a few sales; it's the risk of being fined a percentage of global revenue or being wiped off the UK internet entirely.

im wondering how many people just close the site and goto another source rather than verification. and how much traffic are these sites losing out on because of AV.

ive seen traffic numbers go down even on sites that have been around for 10+ years because of AV

curious if anyone has noticed this as well.

ignore it if you want to disrespect the adult business...

You live & you die, you work & your business is your life, so, your choice :2 cents:

It's often claimed that there are FBI agents and tax inspectors regularly patrolling these boards. If that's the case, I'd be surprised if there wasn't the occasional Ofcom inspector.

History lesson:All porn used to be illegal. So, someone is either in the game or they're not. Perhaps that's the difference between a pornographer and a content creator?

If they didn't want porn on the Internet and the problems with children getting access to it then they shouldn't have destroyed the adult video stores and DVDS. So, the UK and all the other nations can block me because I won't do anything that will cost me time, money or labor. I sure as shit know the government isn't going to pay me to do their job.