SAVE 70%: As of July 28, you can get a two-year Proton VPN Plus for just $2.99 per month, down from $9.99 per month. That's a 70% discount.

Age verification has become a hot topic of discussion in policy (and Reddit) debates. And thanks to the UK’s Online Safety Act, apps (including dating apps, like Tinder and Hinge) and websites that host explicit content (yes, Pornhub) are now required to verify the age of their users in an effort to keep younger viewers safer online.

In practice, however, these age-verification laws are tricky to enforce because they're easy to get around with software like a virtual private network (VPN), which can make it seem like you're browsing from another country entirely. It’s so easy, in fact, one Redditor claimed "a five-year-old can do it."

Since the law took effect (July 25 at midnight BST), multiple VPN companies, specifically Proton VPN, have seen a surge in signups. According to Proton's Observatory page, the company saw a 1,400 percent hourly increase in signups immediately after the UK’s Online Safety Act went into effect.

Mashable Deals

Awesome products and offers, hand-picked for you.

Sign up now for the Mashable Deals newsletter.

Loading... Sign Me Up

By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thanks for signing up!

If you're looking for a top-tier VPN to protect your privacy, Proton VPN (one of the best VPNs in the bizz) has a few options. For a limited time, you can get a two-year subscription to its VPN Plus plan for just $2.99 per month. You'll be billed $71.76 for the first 24 months, a 70% discount from the standard $9.99 monthly rate. There's also the Proton Unlimited plan, which bundles all of Proton's premium services (VPN, Mail, Calendar, Drive, and Pass) for $7.99 per month. And if you just want to test the waters, there's a completely free version of Proton VPN available that offers medium speeds and access to servers in five countries.