Adult DVDs are back thanks to age-verification laws

Adult DVDs are making a comeback in the U.S. thanks to age-verification laws. In South Dakota, adult store owner David Eliason observed a 20-22% increase in DVD sales from the previous year after the state passed age verification legislation. Other states following South Dakota's lead have seen similar trends. The laws typically require personal information like credit card data, ID uploads, or face scans to view explicit content.

Many consumers comply with these laws via virtual private networks (VPNs) or by turning to physical media. Adult industry trade organization director Mike Stabile noted the online age-verification laws have been largely ineffective, with a high percentage of viewers avoiding the restrictions by using noncompliant sites or circumventing the laws with VPNs.

Despite the pushback, some industry insiders remain optimistic about the return of physical media. Former adult store owner and sexuality expert Kim Airs expressed excitement at the prospect of renewed interest in DVDs, viewing them as a way to maintain privacy and anonymity in an increasingly surveilled digital landscape.