Show-Me State Times

Missouri will soon implement a new age-verification regulation aimed at restricting minors’ access to online pornographic content. The rule, announced by Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, was established under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act and requires commercial websites where at least one-third of the content is sexually explicit to introduce robust age-verification tools.

“This rule is a milestone in our effort to protect Missouri children from the devastating harms of online pornography,” said Attorney General Hanaway. “We are holding powerful corporations accountable, respecting women and victims of human trafficking, and helping ensure that minors are shielded from dangerous, sexually explicit material.”

The regulation takes effect on November 30, 2025. Websites failing to comply with the requirement will be considered in violation of state law and could face civil penalties as well as court-ordered restrictions.

Citing research, the Attorney General’s Office noted that children’s first exposure to pornography often occurs around ages 11 or 12. A majority of teenage boys and a significant portion of girls encounter such material during adolescence. The office highlighted concerns about violent or degrading content, potential impacts on mental health and relationships, and links between pornography consumption and broader issues like sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

“If these companies want to profit off explicit material in Missouri, they will not get a free pass,” Attorney General Hanaway said. “They must prove their users are adults or they will be shut out of our state.”

The new measure aims to provide parents with additional means to protect their children from online risks while signaling stricter oversight for companies distributing adult content in Missouri.