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There are concerns about the content we're viewing online, with more and more countries clamping down on the types of pornographic materials we're able to access.
Amid accusations that we're entering an era where nanny states reign supreme, 2025 has seen sites like Pornhub impacted heavily by new laws.
As of late 2025, Pornhub is banned in 22 US states, while it also faced a similar ban in France, the United Kingdom introduced new third-party verification to try and prevent minors from accessing these sites, and Italy soon followed suit.
Things have become especially restricted in the UK, with the 'dangerous' category of suffocation and strangulation porn also in the process of being banned.
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Away from complaints that we're living in a draconian society, the legislation is currently being debated as lawmakers argue it's to protect women from being subjected to these acts, as well as preventing younger generations from viewing them and potentially having their behaviors in and outside of the bedroom from being affected.
It comes off the back of Conservative peer Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, releasing a February 2025 report that called for 'degrading and misogynistic pornography' to be banned. Bertin's report suggested that 'legal but harmful’ pornographic materials are influencing everything from domestic violence to mental health.
She called on government ministers and the Ofcom media regulator to make changes to what's available online.
Bertin shared her concerns, explaining: "We must now consider the concern and harms surrounding the consumption of violent and misogynistic pornography.
"To me, there is clear evidence that pornography, especially that which promotes violent and misogynistic ideals, plays a part in influencing sexual behaviours and attitudes towards women and girls."
Alongside choking and suffocation, there are seven more categories that Bertin called for a ban on.
These include coercion and exploitation, which Bertin refers to as ‘concerning’ due to clips often using keywords like ‘schoolgirl’ and ‘crying’ in their titles.
'Age-play' pornography is a particular kink in the BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism) community, typically involving consenting adults where one roleplays as someone considerably younger.
Even though Bertin's review says there isn't an outright connection between age-play pornography and a "genuine interest in child-sex abuse," child safety advocates are said to have 'concerns'.
'Teen porn' is another category that has flown red flags, especially as the review supposedly found proof that not all platforms are age-checking or consent-checking those featured in videos.
Others include 'image-based sexual abuse’ that's known better as revenge porn, while incest porn and anything featuring the fetishizing of marginalized groups could also be banned.
Finally, deepfakes and pornography created with so-called nudify apps are being called to task.
Notably, Bertin states that anything that wouldn't be given the green light by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) should have the same restrictions applied to it online.
Responding to the review, a letter from the Department for Science Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Justice and Home Office concluded: "We are also deeply concerned, as you have identified, that misogynist attitudes are on the rise, particularly in online spaces.
"We must support our boys and young men to navigate this confusing space and reject and call out, sexist attitudes both in the online and offline world.
"Changing such attitudes will take time as it requires a cultural shift, but we cannot let down our children by doing nothing."
