The internet, once a boundless frontier of information and interaction, is facing an existential threat. A wave of new global legislation and strict age verification mandates are poised to fundamentally alter its landscape, potentially eroding the open access and free-wheeling nature we’ve come to cherish. From YouTube’s enhanced protections for younger users and the UK’s sweeping Online Safety Act to proposed US Senate bills, international guidelines from UNICEF, and Ireland’s robust online safety code, governments worldwide are moving to assert greater control over digital content and user access. These measures signal a future characterized by stringent age checks, intensified content moderation, and a patchwork of global regulations that could transform the digital realm into a heavily policed environment. The era of the truly open internet may be drawing to a close, ushering in a new, more restricted digital age.