Tech

Age-verification is hurting sex educators and sex workers, studies suggest

Published

6 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Vicky

pixelated image of two men embracing with age gate in front of it

Experts have warned about how age verification laws will impact people's work and bank accounts — and now preliminary research suggests that they're right.

Age verification laws vary by state and country, but usually require submitting proof of age, be it a facial scan or uploading a government ID, to view potentially adult content. Since 2022, these laws have been enacted in different U.S. states. Other countries, such as the UK, have also instituted age verification via the Online Safety Act.

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How to unblock Pornhub for free

Sexual freedom nonprofit, the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, found that around one in five sex educators (18 percent) say these laws have already impacted their work. For sex educators working in states with age verification mandates, one in three (33 percent) report this.

Approximately 60 respondents completed the survey last month, so this isn't a wide sample, but it hints at the trickle-down effects of age verification.

"Age-verification laws are already impacting sex education in the U.S.," says Woodhull president and CEO, Ricci Joy Levy, in a press release.

The majority of sex educators surveyed, 73 percent, are concerned that these laws will impact their work, while 76 percent fear they could be used to restrict access to sex education and related resources. As it is, only 37 percent of U.S. states require school sex education to be medically accurate, according to Boston University.

"Again and again, we were told this was only about keeping minors from accessing porn," Levy's statement continues. "Woodhull warned these vague and overly broad policies would also result in censorship of vital, non-explicit information about sex and gender, and the data bear this out. The current age-verification protocols are ripe for abuse, and educators are right to be scared."

Separate research from adult industry research firm SWR Data hints at a similar story when it comes to adult creators. Nearly half (45.2 percent) of the 500 surveyed last fall reported that their income from adult work decreased in the past year, with two-thirds (63 percent) saying it got harder to earn money in the past year as well.

There are several possible reasons for this trend, including overall socioeconomic uncertainty, but a staggering 98 percent of creators who reported lower income said they've experienced difficulties related to the "War on Porn."

The so-called War on Porn can refer to age verification as well as other attempts to remove adult content from the internet. Project 2025, the blueprint for President Trump's second term, calls for an outright ban on pornography and imprisoning its creators. In 2024, one of the co-writers of Project 2025, Russell Vought (now the director of the Office of Management and Budget), reportedly called age verification the "back door" to a porn ban.

The majority of surveyed adult creators who lost income also reported increased social media censorship and increased restrictions on what they can sell, and even fans are having trouble accessing their content.

The latter point — trouble with access — especially affected adult creators in U.S. and UK markets, according to SWR Data. They're also dealing with piracy, showing that viewers are finding ways to work around age verification.

Two separate studies last year suggested that age verification laws don't work to keep children off of porn sites. Reasons include VPN usage and going to non-compliant websites. But it appears that age-verification is working to hurt sex workers and sex educators.

Tech

Save 20% on a Roblox digital gift card during Amazons Big Spring Sale

Published

4 seconds ago

April 5, 2026

Vicky

Roblox gift card on colorful abstract background

SAVE $20: As of March 25, get 20% off a $100 Roblox digital gift card. That means you only need to pay $80 for a $100 gift card to redeem on Roblox.

Credit: Roblox

$100 Roblox Digital Gift Card

$80
at Amazon

$100
Save $20

Whether you're a Roblox fan or you've got kids who won't stay away from it, Robux are a hot in-game commodity.

As of March 25, get 20% off a $100 Roblox digital gift card. That means you only need to pay $80 for a $100 gift card to redeem on Roblox. Saving $20 on the in-game currency is a great idea if you've got your eye on something you'd like to buy, and you can give it to the kids to top up their accounts, too.

This digital code will be emailed to you upon purchase. So you'll get it near-instantly, and you don't have to wait around for a physical card to be mailed to you.

The premium Roblox currency can be used for a variety of things, including in-game costumes, accessories, and other items. Players can spend it on special abilities, weapons, game passes, changing usernames, and anything else you can think of. While Robux can be earned in small increments in Roblox itself, it's better to to just purchase the currency in the real world for you or your kids to spend en masse. And now, it's even cheaper to do right now thanks to this deal.

If you want to grab this deal, best to do it now so you can fill that virtual Robux wallet before the Amazon Big Spring Sale ends. This is one game-centric discount that's going to be selling like hotcakes, as Roblox has a massive fanbase and even more new players with each day that passes.

Tech

T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to qualify

Published

11 minutes ago

April 5, 2026

Vicky

Apple iPhone 17 on Mashable composite background

TL;DR: Get a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. Alternatively, get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.

Credit: Apple

T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free

Last month was absolutely huge for Apple. We got new iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads, but what now? Are we just expected to sit around and wait for the next batch of new products? No, we're supposed to score the best deals on this fresh lineup.

For those interested in investing in the new iPhone 17, we recommend checking out T-Mobile. The popular carrier is offering another "free iPhone" deal this weekend.

You can switch to almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e with no trade in required. Alternatively, you can score the iPhone 17 for free when signing on for 24 months of an Experience Beyond plan and trading in an eligible phone. T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals and a $35 device connection fee.

There are always some strings attached to these sort of deals, and we should note that the Experience More plan is designed for power users who want 4K streaming, massive hotspot data, and the best international roaming. It therefore comes with a higher monthly bill than more limited plans. The Experience More plan does include perks like Apple TV+ and Netflix, which helps offset some of that cost.

If you’re still rocking an iPhone 12 or 13, you’re missing out on some genuinely game-changing features. The iPhone 17 is the first base model built specifically to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter."

Score an iPhone 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

Tech

Amazons sister site is having a one-day sale, and this Bissell TurboClean deal is too good to skip

Published

11 minutes ago

April 5, 2026

Vicky

A woman using the Bissell TurboClean Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner Mop and Lightweight Wet/Dry Vacuum.

GET 25% OFF: Today only, add one or more Main Woot and/or Category Daily Deals to your cart to score 25% off your order subtotal.

Credit: Woot

Get 25% off at Woot

Use code 25OFF at checkout

If you haven't heard of Woot yet, I highly recommend checking it out. The website isn't as sleek or user-friendly as its parent company (which is Amazon, BTW), but if you're willing to do a little digging, you'll find tons of deals on things Amazon hasn't even discounted yet.

Today only, you can get 25% off your order subtotal just by adding one or more Main Woot and/or Category Daily Deals to your cart. All you have to do is enter the promo code 25OFF on the final checkout screen right before you hit the "Place order" button. It's super easy, but you have to act fast because the promotion ends tonight, April 3, 2026, at 11:58 p.m. CT.

Whether you're looking to upgrade your home or just stock up on everyday essentials, the eligible categories have a little bit of everything, including Amazon Kindles, DeWalt flashlights, and the "Grocery and Beauty Palooza."

But my favorite find is on the Bissell TurboClean Cordless Wet/Dry Vac (which is basically a must-have if you have messy pets). Right now, you can get it at Amazon for $281.72, but Woot has it listed as a daily deal for $93.99. When you apply the 25OFF promo code, the price drops to around $70. That's an unbeatable steal for a cordless vacuum with a 30-minute run time and a self-cleaning cycle.