New U.S laws designed to protect minors are pulling millions of adult Americans into mandatory age-verification gates to access online content, leading to backlash from users and criticism from privacy advocates that a free and open internet is at stake. Roughly half of U.S. states have enacted or are advancing laws requiring platforms — including adult content sites, online gaming services, and social media apps — to block underage users, forcing companies to screen everyone who approaches these digital gates.
This has nothing at all to do with “child safety”. It’s all about data mining. And controlling what everyone can see or say online.
also to monitor any left leaning activisim/dissidents , or associated agaisnt conservative governments.