Washington, DC, October 29, 2025 – National Parents Union President Keri Rodrigues released the following statement in response to Character.AI’s decision to restrict access for users under 18:
“Character.AI’s move to kick kids under 18 off its platform is a good start, but let’s be clear: Silicon Valley doesn’t get a gold star for finally doing the bare minimum. Parents have been shouting from the rooftops about the dangers of unregulated AI, and this decision shows the tech industry is only now waking up.
This week, the National Parents Union stood shoulder to shoulder with Senators Hawley, Blumenthal, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling for immediate congressional action to protect kids from the very real harms of AI. Because voluntary action from tech companies is not a real strategy. It is a Band-Aid.
We need real laws, real transparency, and real accountability. Not suggestions. Not hand-wringing. Guardrails with teeth that put children’s safety and mental health first, before profits, before growth, before hype.
Parents are done waiting for tech CEOs to find their conscience. The National Parents Union will keep fighting every single day to make sure every policy, every platform, and every so-called innovation is built around the well-being of our children, not at their expense.”
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARENTS UNION
With more than 1,800 affiliated parent organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, the National Parents Union is the united, independent voice of modern American families. We channel the power of parents into powerful policies that improve the lives of children, families and communities across the United States. https://nationalparentsunion.org/