At 7/31/25 03:09 PM, TomFulp wrote:At 7/31/25 01:11 PM, FringleFrangle04 wrote:I'm curious: How small of a fee will the age verification be? A cent, a dollar, a few dollars?
A few dollars, I've been thinking $5 but if we let Supporter status count, that is currently as little as $3.
Err... I just refreshed this page and got a captcha, that's never happened before. Is this part of it?
At 7/31/25 03:11 PM, DeaghlanNG wrote:At 7/31/25 03:09 PM, TomFulp wrote:At 7/31/25 01:11 PM, FringleFrangle04 wrote:I'm curious: How small of a fee will the age verification be? A cent, a dollar, a few dollars?
A few dollars, I've been thinking $5 but if we let Supporter status count, that is currently as little as $3.
Err... I just refreshed this page and got a captcha, that's never happened before. Is this part of it?
Nah, we have to turn that on sometimes when there's a DDOS attack or whatever just to keep the bots from hammering the site. Been using that for a few years now as-needed.
At 7/31/25 03:02 PM, TomFulp wrote:At 7/31/25 02:41 PM, ShangXian wrote:
A question: what if someone in the UK doesn't even meet this requirement?
If they are an artist or a site regular I can work things out with them. General randos might be out of luck, we'll see.
Thank you for all the effort you are putting into helping us users, you are the best, Tom!
Dort wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen- Heinrich Heine
La religione promette, la scienza mantiene- OsaSapere
Flaws are the best: they create anomalies, and anomalies bend into creativity-EmsDeLaRoZ
How to detect AI-generated music (mainly Suno AI and Udio AI)
I believe that there's beauty in giving sadness a voice-ForgottenDawn
We can only say that we’re heading towards the tipping point and that AMOC tipping is possible-René van Westen
Books should be read twice. Once to understand them, and once to think-Libero (Il diritto alla felicità)
Better to have loved and lost than to end up a bitter incel-Piss
Forelimb feathering, soft tissues, and skeleton of the flying dromaeosaurid Microraptor
During eclipses the light is obscured, but the past is exposed- Fear of Dark
UK people when they want to goon:
edit: didn't notice the ending sorry 😭🙏
The Newgrounds Cat Art Collab is open!
Deadline is in October 1st, 2025, 12:00 AM AEST.
This whole BS dropping has been a pain in the brain-hole. Even not being in one of the countries directly trying to implement this shit, I'm getting hit from the sides as collateral (until of course it crosses over, which at this rate, is an inevitability).
At least I can find some solace in Newgrounds being intelligent and respectful in how to handle these matters. Regardless if it primarily came from a lack of funds, that you guys aren't looking to hound users to give away their personal data, and retain some degree of anonimity is commendable (of course major websites and social media are salivating to get more data on its users, regardless of the consequences).
So thank you, Mr. Fulp, and every hardworking member of Newgrounds staff. You guys keep proving to me how worthwhile this site is, from when I was a pre-teen to a now jaded adult. Even if it's just a little, you continue to give me reason to offer a little bit of my money every year, and to consider Newgrounds my primary art page.
The future is turbulent, so godspeed to us all. Until we can blast off to a new planet, with blackjack, hookers (both drawn and animated), and several art events across the year.
It sucks that this kind of thing has to happen, and you are forced to abide by it.
I'm glad you're trying to do what's best, and I hope it gets easier or this entire thing goes away.
At 7/31/25 08:01 AM, TomFulp wrote:At 7/31/25 04:24 AM, T3odora wrote:What happens if I don't pay the fee? I'm an adult(27 years old), but I've only had this account for 6 years(from July 2019 - present). The supporter status was gifted to me by someone else. Is payment mandatory to use this site, to upload music, art, movies, animation, and post blog posts? Sorry for the questions, I just want to know.
When the time comes, we could work things out manually / directly with artists who are otherwise having trouble verifying.
That's good to hear!
What doesn't kill you makes you gain EXP :)))
this finally pushed me to buying supporter and getting my username changed which i had been meaning to do for like 2 years (was too anxious to message a mod again lmao and i only got my credit card this year.)
UK sucks right now for all of us, this law is so unbelievably unreasonable and i really hope it gets repealed quick. this site's approach to handling verification is great.
just another gay dude on the internet.
It's annoying what's happening in UK, but you gotta do what you gotta do to keep Newgrounds up
YOU DO NOT WANT DADDY TO BE MAD!!! >:(
- big papa, 2009
At 7/30/25 04:38 PM, TomFulp wrote:The UK Online Safety Act deadline has arrived, requiring websites to implement “highly effective age assurance” for people looking to access material intended for adults.
A number of large sites have rolled out changes and people aren’t pleased. VPN use in the UK is skyrocketing, roughly half a million people have signed a petition to repeal the law and the Reform UK party is running on repealing it.
Newgrounds has been in correspondence with Ofcom (UK regulator) for the past year and has been working towards this deadline, despite missing it. We had already taken important steps like bringing age ratings to forum threads, blog posts and collabinator entries but when it comes to introducing additional layers of age verification, we decided it was time for some major internal overhauls, so that we aren’t just duct taping new messes to any already complicated system.
Regardless of age verification, these overhauls have been benefitting the site with better performance and will make NG easier to maintain into the future.
Regarding age verification, here is our current plan for UK users:
1. If your account is more than ten years old, we will assume you are currently over 18. This is in line with one of the methods of effective age assurance, which involves paying a third party to match your email address against some sort of database of scraped data, which determines if your email has been in use for a long time. We have our own long-term data, so we’ll use that instead.
2. If your account ever bought Supporter status with a credit card and we can confirm that with the payment processor, we will assume you are over 18 because you need to be 18 in the UK to have a credit card.
3. If your account ever bought Supporter status more than two years ago, we will assume you are over 18 because you need to be at least 16 to have a Paypal or debit card in the UK (assuming we are right about this - Update - apparently there are options for kids as young as six to get debit cards).
4. If none of the above applies, you will have the opportunity to pay a small one-time fee via credit card as confirmation of your age.
We are not planning to offer things like ID checks or facial recognition because these require us to pay a third party to confirm each person. Because Newgrounds runs at a loss and doesn’t monetize users very well, this is not an option for us. As Wired noted, Big Tech is the only winner of the Online Safety Act because smaller websites can’t afford to keep up with this sort of regulation.
European Union
The EU has now announced their guidelines to protect minors and will be requiring effective age assurance.
Unlike the UK, the EU has announced plans to establish a Digital ID Wallet. Assuming this happens, it should mean EU users can verify their age on NG for free.
That is good for users but to be frank, it would have been better for NG to just extend what we are already building for the UK. Instead, we will have to build a custom solution that interfaces with the Digital ID API. That’s assuming the Digital ID even happens; we may need to implement the UK solution in the meantime.
Side note, EU peeps might also want to check out the Stop Killing Games initiative.
America
There are now 24 states that have passed laws around age verification, requiring an ID check. Most of these laws have exemptions for social media and sites that aren’t entirely dedicated to porn but it’s likely we will need to implement verification in at least some states in the months ahead. If this happens, users will be charged a one-time verification fee and will need to verify their ID with a third party service. Your ID would not be retained by the third party, who only returns a True or False value for our records.
I am curious though, if you are in a US state and are experiencing ID checks on platforms like X, Bluesky or Reddit, let me know which state.
Country-wide, the Kids Online Safety Act has come back from the dead and there are concerns about how it will be implemented by the current administration.
KOSA does propose directing federal agencies to study device-level and OS-level age verification methods. I touched on this in my January Online Safety Update, where I referenced the Digital Age Assurance Act (DAAA). I’ll never understand why this wasn’t the starting point for any of these laws but I imagine Google, Apple and Microsoft might know why.
Because lawmakers ignored device-level verification, they have put the onus on millions of websites to do it instead. While you can generally trust a site like Newgrounds, things get murky when people start verifying on unknown sites. Even our kids will be accustomed to it, with apps like Roblox implementing face scans instead of requesting age data from the device. Imagine the sort of extortion that can happen when bad actors get personal identification from people who are looking at embarrassing topics. A whole new industry of scammers is probably being built around this.
Closing Thoughts
None of this has been fun but we’re trying to do what we need to do for NG to continue to exist.
One positive is that charging small verification fees will hopefully get Newgrounds closer to break-even, assuming we don’t run into trouble with payment processors. In the meantime, it would be greatly appreciated if more of you could become Supporters.
Other News
Random-storykeeper has announced the Art Inspired Music Winners!
Figburn has announced the Contract Rush Art Contest Winners!
He also made a pretty site skin to celebrate the launch of Contract Rush on Steam.
Pjorg wrote a great postmortem for Babe Alert!
Little-Radiodemon (aka Little-Rena) is looking for BBS Award Helpers.
Marbardan82 was bitten by a bat and is offering emergency commissions due to lack of insurance. Hopefully he will still make it to the Short Short Fest here in PA.
Catch up on our Best of June if you missed those.
For as terrible as this situation is, you and NG staff are handling it with as much grace and dignity as anyone possibly could. Your willingness to be up-front and honest is greatly appreciated, as is your linking of resources and encouragement to learn more about what’s going on. I can’t imagine the headache of having to deal with this as administrators, but it speaks to your values and integrity that you took the time to keep us users in the loop.
Metal is free from the sins of the flesh.
Tom and the gang are handling all of this extremely well, it must be an absolute fucking nightmare to deal with.
Thanks for keeping us updated, keep up the great work!
ive been here for years!
At 7/31/25 03:22 PM, EwanDoggieNG wrote:UK people when they want to goon:
edit: didn't notice the ending sorry 😭🙏
That's a parody of the get smart opening, isn't it?
"If you're going through hell... keep going."
~ Winston Churchill (Maybe)
Click here to see my art and animation thread postings. Just a note that some of it might be NSFW.
am i the only one wondering if:
A) the govs have the technology (and the data) to pull a blanket internet provider block on NSFW sites ONLY FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN IN THEM, so that houses that have only adults are not affected by the block and those that have children have to go in person to require a PW for full access under the excuse of checking for false positives
B) the above would be better or worse than what is currently going on?
C) my super idealism is striking me again and blinding me to anything that could go wrong with A? (i'll elaborate what i had in mind with A if somebody asks)
Leaked footage of Mario trying to look at titties
At 7/31/25 06:36 PM, Chris wrote:
Leaked footage of Mario trying to look at titties
You can have more fun with it if you hold Z and can play around with his face.
"If you're going through hell... keep going."
~ Winston Churchill (Maybe)
Click here to see my art and animation thread postings. Just a note that some of it might be NSFW.
At 7/31/25 07:13 PM, xeiavica wrote:At 7/31/25 06:36 PM, Chris wrote:You can have more fun with it if you hold Z and can play around with his face.
Leaked footage of Mario trying to look at titties
The government asks me to open my mouth. I hold Z and drag his mouth open
At 7/30/25 05:01 PM, Belyaevs-Fox wrote:Where any experts on cybersecurity or Internet culture consulted when these laws where being designed? I doubt most of the people who wanted the legislation passed actually understand the full depth and scale of the online ecocsystem.
Of course not. These are elected officials we're talking about. Whether in the US, the EU or anywhere else, their communications tech savvy is slim to nonexistent. That goes for any other kind of specialized knowledge, too. All they know about is how to run for elections & keep their places at the trough. They usually don't know jack shit about anything else.
Pen pusher, brush dragger, wood butcher & usual suspect.
You can check out my stuff in the folders here if you're bored at work.
It seems like now's a good time to remind y'all:
Every so often, wipe your viewing history on here. Depending on what you're into you might want to wipe your voting log as well.
The above is not, of course, a substitute for erasing your browser's history.
Pen pusher, brush dragger, wood butcher & usual suspect.
You can check out my stuff in the folders here if you're bored at work.
This fucking sucks ass, but as long as the site continues on good and content doesn't get removed and the platform censored like what happened to Steam and Itch.io then I guess it's not the worse outcome. :(
@Tomfulp Question! I'm turning 18 soon and I live in one of those ID verification states. Will I have to verify my age and how will I do so? I don't have a credit/debit card myself.
Also, will Newgrounds ever be censored like Steam or Itch.io?
At 7/31/25 07:54 AM, TomFulp wrote:At 7/31/25 06:07 AM, BIXEL-Hearty wrote:I don't comment here much but since this is going to happen, I don't see Australia mention here. Like how it would continue to use the platform? Are you going to do the same current plan that the UK for Aussies? Or something else?
Has Australia finalized anything regarding ID checks? We did raise our minimum sign-up age to 16 this year, which is in better compliance with places like Australia and various US states that have been mandating a minimum age. There is talk in some of these places of having to verify the user is at least 16 but I think those proposals have been facing a lot of challenges.
It will be finalised by the end of December this year, with the ID checks and such.
If I'm completely honest, this idea doesn't sounds bad at all, it reminds me of the law COPPA (How it seems like it didn't worked at all), the thinig is, the way they're implementing this law, specially to websites how are not european. I hope you guys find the way for resolve this matter, because children deserve access to the internet (with parental supervision of course), but also protection from weird and dangerous people like pedos and groomers. It's a shame the EU and america need to do this just because the society are full of grown ass parents how don't gaf about their children safety when is about the internet.
no context thing btw
if I was cynical, I would say "all these new online child safety acts are just a way to further snub out smaller websites. it won't even slow down kids from accessing adult content.
These acts are not to protect kids, its to get the details of adults users, hobble small sites, and invent new ways to charge and control websites."
Good thing I am not cynical :D
"A reward is it's own reward." - Killgar
Hey, does anyone know how AUS will be effected? I'm not quite sure if we will follow UK, EU or our own laws but here there's been massive socials crackdowns for age verification. Just asking since I'm against sharing information (in regards to online purchases and subscriptions, for context) and I'd like to know how I'll be effected. I am an adult and I have no interest in NG's A content (Which is mostly all you-know-what content, gross!) but I'm very much against censorship and want to see my peers thrive in the arts industry. Will M still be visible regardless of this / content visible on sign out? I still want to watch my indie animations!! :D
It's been unbelievably extreme with verification when the responsibility should be on the parental guardian's responsibility to keep young people safe online. It's very disappointing to hear this, but I am in no way upset with NG. Just a lot of fearmongering and lobbying, I'm guessing. I get the sense these changes might not stick, but it's important to prepare for the worst.
This is like some Cyberpunk Edgerunners level of technological control, I think we should be worried.
You must believe in the power of HARMONY!
At 7/31/25 08:26 PM, ROSSACTIVO wrote:If I'm completely honest, this idea doesn't sounds bad at all, it reminds me of the law COPPA (How it seems like it didn't worked at all), the thinig is, the way they're implementing this law, specially to websites how are not european. I hope you guys find the way for resolve this matter, because children deserve access to the internet (with parental supervision of course), but also protection from weird and dangerous people like pedos and groomers. It's a shame the EU and america need to do this just because the society are full of grown ass parents how don't gaf about their children safety when is about the internet.
Listen. I get you mean, but I still think this shit sucks. There are places like Youtube Kids for a reason. Children should NOT be using standard sites like Youtube and Newgrounds anyways and I feel like it's very unfair for us older people to be punished or have to share our spaces with children because their parents don't you know... PARENT!
I was a kid once. I used sites like Youtube and Newgrounds and despite seeing some mature content I loved those sites. I didn't whine about what I saw to my parents and I didn't want the internet to tailor to my pampered needs like the world should be what I want it to be. If children can't handle the internet then they should NOT be using it!
Out of curiosity @TomFulp, I don't exactly know your feelings on the proposed Fair Access to Banking Act, but assuming it does pass would you think that there is the potential for it to protect Newgrounds from getting shut down or at the very least keep the finance institutions off the back of NG getting support?
At 7/31/25 09:52 PM, DioShiba wrote:I'm gonna leave this here for people and they can get in touch with their representatives if they live in the United States.
Out of curiosity @TomFulp, I don't exactly know your feelings on the proposed Fair Access to Banking Act, but assuming it does pass would you think that there is the potential for it to protect Newgrounds from getting shut down or at the very least keep the finance institutions off the back of NG getting support?
Hey I already signed that petition a few days back! Nice! :D
I genuinely understand what you mean and how you feel about this situation. I am an adult too, and you're absolutely right about the fact children shouldn't to be in standar places. I'm someone how always says children should to stay away from places such as Newgrounds and Youtube because of the type of content people usually publich in these places. As you said, you were a kid once, and you saw pretty mature content such a young age, and let me tell you something; you're not the only one. I got expossed to very explicit, violent and vulgar content at a very young age, something how fucked me up eventually. And I'm pretty sure there is A LOT of people how are like this too. What I'm tryiing to say with this? I agree with what you're saying and feeling. There is no child spaces anymore because dangerous adults take over these places, and children are forced to be in standar places like instagram and twitter, even tho these aren't safer in any way, not ever for us.
But also treating children like they're a problem are not going to resolve anything. They had their own spaces back in the 2000's, but as I said, dangerous adults and companies who doesn't care about children safety just created a more bigger problem, but as a said again, children aren't the problem, irresponsable companies and dangerous adults are, that's because these laws exist in the first place. The thing is, like I said in my post, the huge issues the EU and American COPPA system have because they really don't want to attack the real problem.
no context thing btw
At 7/31/25 09:57 PM, ROSSACTIVO wrote:I genuinely understand what you mean and how you feel about this situation. I am an adult too, and you're absolutely right about the fact children shouldn't to be in standar places. I'm someone how always says children should to stay away from places such as Newgrounds and Youtube because of the type of content people usually publich in these places. As you said, you were a kid once, and you saw pretty mature content such a young age, and let me tell you something; you're not the only one. I got expossed to very explicit, violent and vulgar content at a very young age, something how fucked me up eventually. And I'm pretty sure there is A LOT of people how are like this too. What I'm tryiing to say with this? I agree with what you're saying and feeling. There is no child spaces anymore because dangerous adults take over these places, and children are forced to be in standar places like instagram and twitter, even tho these aren't safer in any way, not ever for us.
But also treating children like they're a problem are not going to resolve anything. They had their own spaces back in the 2000's, but as I said, dangerous adults and companies who doesn't care about children safety just created a more bigger problem, but as a said again, children aren't the problem, irresponsable companies and dangerous adults are, that's because these laws exist in the first place. The thing is, like I said in my post, the huge issues the EU and American COPPA system have because they really don't want to attack the real problem.
I understand what you mean by this. When I was a kid I used Scratch and that was pretty kid friendly for example. I do agree with you that kids should have their own places on the internet and it's not exactly children's faults. Companies should just as you mentioned go for the real problem instead of censoring and blocking content for adults and teens.
Also, the content I saw didn't fuck me up though. I was mature though.
