> At a Glance
> – HBO’s Industry Season 4 dives into age verification laws and their impact on adult platforms
> – The UK’s Online Safety Act caused Pornhub traffic to drop 80% after July 2025
> – Creators Konrad Kay and Mickey Down say the issue became a political flashpoint during production
> – Why it matters: The show mirrors real-world debates on digital privacy, free speech, and regulation
Season 4 of HBO’s Industry explores the collision of tech, politics, and pornography through a fintech company wrestling with age verification laws. The season, premiering Sunday, continues the show’s expansion beyond finance into the ethics and economics of adult content.
The Plot That Became Reality
Tender, a recently IPO’d fintech firm, debates whether to keep processing payments for Siren, an OnlyFans-style adult platform. The dilemma intensifies as UK politicians push stricter age verification rules, threatening Tender’s revenue stream.
Konrad Kay said:
> “It was in the ether of British politics, but it wasn’t front and center when we started writing… then it really flared up.”
The UK’s Online Safety Act, enacted in July 2025, requires age checks for adult content. Pornhub’s UK traffic plummeted 80% post-law, and similar laws are spreading across the US.
Character-Driven Fallout
The season follows Sweetpea Golightly, a junior banker and anonymous OnlyFans creator whose identity is exposed without consent. Her arc moves from empowerment to exploitation, reflecting the show’s nuanced take on online sex work.
Mickey Down noted:
> “It can be empowering and exploitative.”
Other storylines include:
- Yasmin’s toxic inheritance after her Epstein-like father’s disappearance
- The rise of authoritarian politics in the UK and US
- Fraud and fintech ethics
Key Takeaways
- Industry Season 4 mirrors real-world fallout from age verification laws
- The UK’s Online Safety Act caused major traffic drops for adult sites
- The show portrays sex work with more complexity than typical TV
- Politics, tech, and adult content are now inseparable
As regulation tightens, Industry captures the chaos of a digital world trying to police desire.
