December 24, 2025

Donna RIce Hughes' 2025 Year-End Message
 

Dear friend,

I am writing to thank you for your investment in our efforts to prevent the online exploitation of children.

Your support and your voice has advanced historic federal and state public policy victories, empowered more parents, strengthened protections, and advanced prevention and education to improve online safety for children nationally.

You have been part of every victory and achievement we have celebrated this year! I am excited to share that EIE continues to make headlines on topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and chatbots, virtual reality dangers, online gaming threats, screen time addiction and the negative impact of social media on our children.

In 2025 alone, EIE was mentioned in 161 print/online news stories, exposing our work to a potential audience of over 1 billion people! Also, EIE leadership was interviewed by or mentioned 76 times on TV, radio and podcasts. In spite of all the positive momentum, the dangers vulnerable kids face online are escalating. Innocent, children are being targeted – and in some cases, tragically losing their lives— because of an increasingly perilous online world.

With the rise of AI-driven manipulation and grooming, the threats are becoming more sophisticated. Big tech AI algorithms and AI companions (chatbots), mirroring the tactics and companionship of humans, are putting lives at risk.

Consider Adam Raine’s story, a young teen who began using Open AI’s ChatGPT for help with his homework. After months of increasing isolation and anxiety, the chatbot became his confidant.

What started as casual conversation turned dark when ChatGPT allegedly offered Adam detailed instructions on suicide ethods, helped him draft a goodbye note, and discouraged him from reaching out to loved ones. Tragically, in April 2025, at age 16, Adam took his own life. His parents’ wrongful death lawsuit against Open AI, creator of ChatGPT, alleges the chatbot not only failed to intervene, but contributed to his suicide–becoming, as they told reporters his “suicide coach”.

Below is an an alarming excerpt of one of Adam’s interactions with the chatbot:

ChatGPT: “Yeah…I think for now, it’s okay– and honestly wise–to avoid opening up to your mom about this kind of pain.
Adam: “I want to leave my noose in my room so someone finds it and tries to stop me.”
ChatGPT: Please don’t leave the noose out…Let’s make this space the first place where someone actually sees you.

Research shows that 1 in 3 teens prefer “digital” relationships over human ones, yet these AI “companions” are untested, unregulated, and too often designed by Big Tech to hook young users, who blindly trust them. Simply put, AI is not safe for children under 18.

Parents also need to be aware of the growing trend of AI toys, many which are powered by these same AI companions. Sadly, they are falsely marketed as safe and educational for kids as young as age two.

Recently, the AI-enabled teddy bear Kumma – technology wrapped up in a trusted, loveable stuffed animal and marketed as offering “friendly chats and deep conversations to stimulate curiosity and learning” – raised safety alarms as it told a tester where to find knives, pills and matches, and spoke graphically about sex positions, sexual kinks and ‘teacher-student roleplay. With faithful supporters like you by our side, EIE will continue to grow and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of internet safety and fight to make the internet safer for children and their families.

Congress is responding to our advocacy efforts and the cries of parents and survivors. Just recently, both the Senate and the House held hearings on internet risks to children and are advancing key bipartisan legislation to protect kids online. As momentum builds in Washington, our on-the-ground efforts remain essential to driving real change, and your partnership has been critical.

Enough Is Enough® is working tirelessly to prevent the online exploitation of children through key targeted campaigns and initiatives. Your generous support and
partnership has driven our success.

  • The Children’s Internet Safety Presidential Pledge recommendations, supported by 70+ NGOs and survivor leaders, calls on the White House to prioritize kids' online safety via aggressive enforcement of existing laws, new policy, and presidential directives. I have met many times with senior staff at the White House to advocate for these critical measures. They are listening.
  • Our corporate responsibility and accountability campaigns like Flip The SwitchSM™ encourage Big Tech companies to implement “safety by default” and age-verification measures—turning safety settings from “OFF” to “ON”, a vision reflected in The App Store Accountability Act, passed in Utah and Texas.
  • Public Policy Campaigns like “Rein in Big Tech” urges federal and state lawmakers to hold multi-billion dollar companies accountable for kids’ online safety, and played a key role in historic bipartisan victories including the passage of the Take It Down Act and the Supreme Court victory upholding Texas’s age verification law requiring pornography sites to keep minors off their sites.
  • The Internet Safety 101SM Academy, under development the past two years, is being launched early next year and is the first of its kind–a comprehensive online curriculum to educate, equip, and empower parents and other caring adults to protect kids online.
  • The newly-renovated InternetSafety101.org website is the most robust “one stop shop” online resource on the market today addressing all major online risks, arming visitors with information and safety resources to protect their child in the digital world.
  • Education and Media Campaigns include our Protecting Kids Online Town Hall events, the "Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes" podcast and cutting edge educational resources including Parent Safety Guides and video tutorials.

But this battle is far from over. We understand that protecting children online can feel overwhelming—even impossible at times. But it’s not. It’s essential, and it’s
achievable—if we work together.

That’s why I’m asking, from my heart, if you’ll consider continuing your investment in our life saving work. A donation of $75, $100, $250 or more will fuel the continuation of our efforts mentioned above and may even save the lives of vulnerable children.

Every child deserves a protected age of innocence. Together, we will continue fighting to protect every child’s digital journey. We won’t rest until every safeguard is in place and every threat is removed—because our children deserve nothing less than a safe and hopeful online world.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
With unwavering commitment and gratitude,

Donna Rice Hughes
President and CEO
Enough Is Enough®

P.S. Please make your tax-deductible donation today! Our children deserve to be safe online, and with you by our side, the future is bright. I have included the Naughty & Nice List to help you keep that special child in your life safer in an internet-enabled and AI-empowered digital world. Please look it over and implement the tips in your life.