Every parent remembers when social media first seemed harmless — a place for kids to connect, learn, and belong. We now know better.

That same promise of connection turned into an industry of addiction, exploitation, and grief — all shielded by outdated laws.

Now, a new wave of technology is upon us: Artificial Intelligence (AI). And once again, children are being left unprotected.

AI Is Already Shaping Childhood

AI isn’t science fiction anymore — it’s embedded in nearly everything our kids use. It powers the algorithms that decide what they see online, the chatbots that mimic friendships, the filters and avatars that shape self-image, and even the deepfakes that blur what’s real.

“This time, our children are not just the users, they’re the experiment.”

Already, we’re seeing disturbing trends:

• AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that depicts fake children but fuels real harm.
• AI chatbots and voice clones used by predators to manipulate or groom minors.
• Synthetic influencers and “AI best friends” marketed directly to kids, normalizing emotional dependence on machines.
• Deepfake bullying where a child’s face or voice is used for humiliation or blackmail.

And still  there are no federal laws specifically protecting children from these new threats.

The Policy Vacuum

While tech companies race to dominate the AI market, Congress and regulators remain years behind. There are no national safety standards for child-facing AI, no age verification requirements for AI-powered products, and no enforcement mechanisms when harm occurs.

Even existing laws — like Section 230 and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) — were written before the rise of generative AI, deepfakes, or algorithmic learning.
They simply don’t apply to the realities of today’s internet.

That means parents are left with all the risk and corporations keep all the reward.

The Myth of “Innovation First”

Tech executives warn that regulation will “stifle innovation.”
But what they really mean is: it will stifle profits.

We’ve heard it before — with tobacco, cars, and social media. The same pattern repeats: move fast, ignore harm, apologize later.

Except this time, the product isn’t a cigarette or an app, it’s the reality our kids live in.

When there’s no accountability, the incentive is to exploit, not protect. The human cost — anxiety, addiction, exploitation, and trauma — is treated as collateral damage in the pursuit of growth.

What We Need Now

We don’t have to accept this future. Parents and lawmakers can act but the time window is closing fast.

Parents RISE and our allies are calling for a new generation of digital policy that puts children’s safety before corporate profit.

We’re demanding:

• Federal AI accountability laws requiring transparency, safety testing, and independent oversight for all child-facing AI tools.
• Explicit bans on AI-generated child sexual abuse material, with enforcement across platforms and nations.
• Ethical design standards ensuring AI systems for minors are safe, age-appropriate, and not emotionally manipulative.
• Algorithmic transparency, including public reporting on youth-related risks and impacts.

Parents Can Lead the Way

We can’t wait for Silicon Valley to find its conscience — or for Congress to act after the next tragedy. As parents, we’ve seen what happens when technology outpaces responsibility. We won’t let history repeat itself.

“We’ve already lost too many to the last tech revolution. We won’t lose another generation to AI.”

This fight isn’t anti-technology. It’s pro-human, pro-family, and pro-accountability.

Together, we can build a digital future rooted in safety, dignity, and truth — one where our children’s data, images, and emotions are not raw materials for corporate gain.

Every time you hand your child a phone or allow them to go online, you trust that the digital spaces they enter will be safe. But the truth is, they’re not—and a decades-old law called Section 230 is one major reason why.

What Is Section 230?

Passed in 1996, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act was created when the internet was still young. It was designed to protect websites from being held responsible for what users post. In theory, it encouraged free speech and innovation online.

But nearly thirty years later, that same law has become a shield for some of the most powerful corporations in history—Big Tech companies like Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snapchat—allowing them to profit from harm without accountability.

The Consequences for Families

Because of Section 230, tech companies can’t be sued even when:

• Algorithms knowingly amplify harmful content to children.
• Platforms recommend predators, drug dealers, or self-harm groups to vulnerable users.
• Companies ignore repeated warnings about the exploitation or death of children on their apps.

These harms aren’t rare. They’re systematic.

Last year alone, over 36 million reports of child sexual abuse material were filed—most linked to major social-media platforms. Drug dealers use encrypted messaging and disappearing-content features to sell fentanyl to teens. Predators use recommendation algorithms to groom and exploit children.

And through it all, companies claim immunity—because Section 230 says they’re not responsible for what happens on their platforms, even when their design choices make it possible.

Why Reform Matters

Reforming Section 230 doesn’t mean ending free speech. It means ending impunity. It means that billion-dollar companies should face the same basic accountability that every other industry does. If an automaker sells cars with faulty brakes, or a toy manufacturer releases a dangerous product, they can be held liable. Why should the rules be different online—especially when children’s lives are at stake?

Modernizing this outdated law would:

• Allow victims and families to seek justice when platforms cause foreseeable harm.
• Force companies to prioritize safety over profit, changing the incentive structure behind harmful design.
• Create a safer digital environment for children, families, and communities.

What It Means for You

Parents, caregivers, and families are on the front lines. We see the real-world consequences of an unaccountable tech industry—anxiety, addiction, exploitation, and loss.
But we also hold the power to change it.

By speaking up, organizing, and demanding accountability, parents can drive a new era of responsibility online. Reforming Section 230 isn’t about politics; it’s about protecting our children, our communities, and our future.

In mid-2024, the Senate overwhelmingly approved the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), in a rare bipartisan vote of 91-3. The legislation was built around the idea that tech platforms bear a “duty of care” toward minors—requiring default privacy protections for children, disabling addictive design features, and giving parents new tools to protect their kids online.

But despite that strong Senate support, the bill stalled in the House and never became law. Lobbying from Big Tech, concerns about free speech, and other legislative priorities meant the momentum faded as the congressional term ended. 

For many parents, this was gut-wrenching because we weren’t lobbying from theory — we were acting from experience. We saw children harmed, families shattered, and platforms built for engagement without regard for the consequences. We had trusted the assurances of tech companies that their products were safe. And we had done everything we could as parents: talked to our kids, used safety tools, set limits—yet still lost our most precious loves.

That’s why Parents RISE was founded. We recognized that passing a law is just one step. Real accountability means being present, organized, and powerful, and combining lived-experience, advocacy, and policy to make sure this issue never gets sidelined again. 

We are survivor-parents turned advocates. We are turning grief into action. We’re demanding that children’s lives come before corporate profit, and we’re mobilizing now so that when the next opportunity comes — whether the revival of KOSA or another legislative vehicle — we’ll be ready.

Together, we will not let another chance slip away.