Ending Sexploitation Podcast (Episode 83)

Character.AI has announced a surprising and encouraging change to their platform that would restrict usage to 18+ users. It remains to be seen how accurate and reliable their system handles age verification, and Haley McNamara and Dani Pinter discuss the lead up to this monumental change for a major player in the AI companion bot space.

Sign this petition to have other AI companies make this change! https://advocacy.charityengine.net/Default.aspx?isid=2673

Read the NCOSE press statement on the new GUARD Act: https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/children-are-victims-of-ai-chatbots-guard-act-will-add-necessary-guardrails/

Read the article on Mashable about this announcement from Character.AI: https://mashable.com/article/character-ai-teens-no-longer-allowed-open-ended-chats-with-chatbots

Read the full report From HEAT Initiative and Parents Action Together on AI Kids' Accounts: https://heatinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HEAT_REPORT_CharacterAI_FINAL_PM_29_09_25.pdf