Texas Wins Big: Supreme Court Backs Age Check Law for Porn Sites

The Supreme Court made a big decision recently. It said that Texas can make websites with adult content check if users are 18 or older. This is to keep kids from seeing stuff they shouldn't. It's the first time the court has okayed something like this. Some people are not happy. They say the law is too vague and makes it hard for adults to see legal content. But Texas says no one has shown that their rights are being hurt. The court agreed, saying the law only affects adults a little bit. The law passed in 2023. It wants to protect kids under 18 from seeing adult stuff. To do this, all users must show ID to prove they are adults. This applies to sites where at least one-third of the content is "sexually suggestive" and "harmful to children. " But what exactly is "harmful to children" is not clear. Some say it could include romance novels and R-rated movies. The Free Speech Coalition and other groups sued. They say the law goes against the First Amendment. They also worry about privacy. The law says companies can't keep ID info, but it doesn't stop them from sharing it. Plus, the law doesn't cover search engines and social media, which are big ways kids find adult content. A federal judge first blocked the law, saying it might be unconstitutional. But an appeals court later said it was okay. They used a simple test: if the law has a good reason, it's fine. The challengers say this test is too easy and ignores how it affects adults.