Is Pornhub blocked in St. Louis?
It depends which side of the state line you're on. In St. Louis, Pornhub has been blocked since November 30, 2025. In the Metro East, Pornhub is available.
Which side of the line are you on?
| Area | Pornhub | State law |
|---|---|---|
| St. LouisSt. Louis, St. Charles, Chesterfield | Pornhub blocked since Nov 30, 2025 | Law in effectsince Aug 28, 2026 |
| the Metro EastBelleville, Edwardsville, Alton | No law; Pornhub available | No law |
Is Pornhub blocked in St. Louis?
Yes. St. Louis, St. Charles and Chesterfield are in Missouri, where Pornhub has been blocked since November 30, 2025, in response to Missouri law (HB 1839).
Is Pornhub blocked in the Metro East?
No. Belleville, Edwardsville and Alton are in Illinois, where there is no age-verification law for porn sites, and Pornhub is available.
Why does Pornhub think I'm in Missouri?
Websites estimate where you are from your IP address, not your street address. Mobile carriers and some internet providers route traffic through regional hubs that can sit across a state line, so a phone in Belleville can appear to be in Missouri.
When a site shows another state's notice, the cause is usually where your network's IP address is registered, not the law where you are.
Why does Pornhub load for some people in St. Louis?
Sites decide where you are from your network's IP address. A connection registered across the state line can be treated as being there, which is why the same site can behave differently for neighbours on the same street.
Missouri law (HB 1839) puts its duties on websites, not on the people who visit them.
Local coverage
- Age verification law for porn sites now in effect in Missouri St. Louis Public Radio, Aug 28, 2026
HB 1839 writes the AG's rule into statute. Pornhub remains out of Missouri, and the Free Speech Coalition says VPN use surges in states with these laws. - Porn site users in Missouri will have to prove they are at least 18 under verification bill St. Louis Public Radio, May 13, 2026
The legislature gives HB 1839 final passage (House 112-25, Senate 32-0). Rep. Raychel Proudie (D-Ferguson) is quoted in support. - Illinois GOP senators propose child online safety bills The Telegraph, Apr 30, 2026
Metro East angle: Sen. Erica Harriss, whose 56th District is 'much of the Metro East region across the Mississippi River from St. Louis', unveils a child online-safety package that includes adult-content age verification for Illinois. - Foes of Missouri's age verification for porn websites may face steep legal hurdles St. Louis Public Radio, Dec 2, 2025
After Pornhub leaves Missouri, AG Hanaway says it is 'welcome to leave'. A Saint Louis University law professor weighs legal challenges and notes VPNs can get around the block. - Pornhub shuts down in Missouri after age verification rule St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dec 1, 2025
Kurt Erickson reports that Missouri's age-verification rule took effect and Pornhub told Missouri users it is no longer operating in the state. - Missouri's looming anti-porn regulations could face legal challenge St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sep 16, 2025
Ahead of the rule's Nov. 30 start, an adult-industry trade group tells the Post-Dispatch it may challenge the rule in court. - Harriss bill would force age verification for explicit online content The Telegraph, Aug 31, 2023
Sen. Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) files the Adult Content Age Verification Act for Illinois. It never passed, so the Illinois side has no law.
Local lawmakers
- Renee Reuter (R), Missouri House, District 112 (Imperial): Co-sponsor, HB 1839 (2026). Source
- Wendy Hausman (R), Missouri House, District 65 (St. Peters): Co-sponsor, HB 1839 (2026). Source
- Tricia Byrnes (R), Missouri House, District 63 (Wentzville): Co-sponsor, HB 1839 (2026). Source
- Deanna Self (R), Missouri House, District 64 (St. Paul): Co-sponsor, HB 1839 (2026). Source
- Jeff Myers (R), Missouri House, District 42 (Warrenton): Co-sponsor, HB 1839 (2026). Source
- Raychel Proudie (D), Missouri House, District 73 (Ferguson): Spoke for the bill at final passage, HB 1839 (2026). Source
- Erica Harriss (R), Illinois Senate, District 56 (Glen Carbon): Sponsor, SB 3945 (2026) and earlier versions, none passed. Source
- Jason Plummer (R), Illinois Senate, District 55: Chief co-sponsor, SB 3945 (2026), which stalled in committee. Source
Sources
Each state's status comes from its own page, where every fact is sourced: Missouri, Illinois.
- Pornhub shuts down in Missouri after age verification rule (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)News · Dec 1, 2025
- Foes of Missouri's age verification for porn websites may face steep legal hurdles (St. Louis Public Radio)News · Dec 2, 2025
- Age verification law for porn sites now in effect in Missouri (St. Louis Public Radio)News · Aug 28, 2026
- Porn site users in Missouri will have to prove they are at least 18 under verification bill (St. Louis Public Radio)News · May 13, 2026
- Missouri's looming anti-porn regulations could face legal challenge (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)News · Sep 16, 2025
- Illinois GOP senators propose child online safety bills (The Telegraph)News · Apr 30, 2026
- Harriss bill would force age verification for explicit online content (The Telegraph)News · Aug 31, 2023
- Renee Reuter, HB 1839 (2026) (house.mo.gov)Legislature
- Erica Harriss, SB 3945 (2026) and earlier versions, none passed (my.ilga.gov)Legislature
- Geolocation accuracy (MaxMind (IP geolocation provider))Geolocation · 2025
- GeoIP accuracy comparison (MaxMind (IP geolocation provider))Geolocation · 2026
- IP Geolocation Databases: Unreliable? (ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review)Geolocation · Apr 1, 2011
- RFC 8805: A Format for Self-Published IP Geolocation Feeds (IETF)Geolocation · Aug 1, 2020
This page is general information, not legal advice. Last verified October 26, 2026 by the Editorial Team. See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction. How we work: methodology.