Family First is pleased to see that US states are taking the protection of children from the harms of pornography seriously by proposing new age verification laws.

Recent legislation in Texas and other states is an important step towards creating a safer online environment for children.

It begs the question as to why Australia is lagging behind?

Age verification laws require individuals to prove they are of legal age to access certain content online, including pornographic material.

While some may argue that these laws are a restriction of freedom, the reality is that the harms caused by pornography are well-documented.

Children who are exposed to pornography can suffer from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and difficulty forming healthy relationships later in life.

The proposed legislation in Texas, for example, seeks to ensure that children are not exposed to sexual material online without proper safeguards in place.

It would require websites that display "sexually oriented material" to verify the age of users before allowing access to such content. This is a common-sense approach that will help to protect our children from the dangers of pornographic material.

Unfortunately, there are those who oppose age verification laws, often citing concerns about privacy and freedom of expression. However, these objections are misguided.

Afterall, proof of age must be provided before purchasing cigars online. Why should the same not apply to accessing the sexual exploitation of young women?

Age verification systems can be designed to protect users' privacy, although it is questionable as to whether this form of “entertainment” should be available in the first place.

It is heartening to see that other US states are also taking action to protect children from the harms of pornography.

For example, South Carolina recently passed legislation that requires internet service providers to provide filtering software to block access to pornographic material.

And in Utah, a bill was recently introduced that would require internet service providers to automatically block pornographic material unless a user specifically requests to access it.

It begs the question: if US politicians can find the will and courage to act, why can't Australia's?

The Family First Party has long called for age verification laws to be introduced in Australia to protect children from online harms.

It is time for our politicians to act.