Ellen Roome, a grieving mother from Gloucestershire, is one of several parents taking legal action against TikTok following the tragic deaths of five children linked to dangerous online challenges. Ellen’s 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, passed away at their home in Cheltenham in 2022. Since then, she has been steadfast in her campaign for justice and change.
Recently, Ellen traveled to Delaware, USA, to attend a hearing related to the lawsuit filed by the Social Media Victims Law Centre against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance. The case argues that Jools, along with Isaac Kenevan (13), Archie Battersbee (12), Noah Gibson (11), and Maia Walsh (13), lost their lives while participating in lethal online challenges promoted on the platform.
Reflecting on the hearing, Ellen described the experience as “deeply painful,” highlighting the cold and technical legal language that belies the profound human tragedy behind the case. “For the court, this is about motions and procedures. For us, it is about our children. Our dead children,” she shared on Facebook. Despite the heartrending process, Ellen emphasized her commitment to continue fighting for answers and greater protections for children.
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Ellen has since sold the financial business she ran for 18 years to dedicate herself fully to campaigning for “Jools’ Law”—legislation that would grant parents access to their deceased children’s digital data without needing a court order. She is also advocating for stricter regulations on social media platforms to enhance online child safety.
One of the campaign’s central issues is holding tech companies accountable for exposing children to harmful content that can lead to real-world tragedy. Ellen stressed, “This is not about banning the internet. It’s about stopping platforms from being addictive by design, protecting children from harm, and ensuring companies take responsibility when the worst happens.”
TikTok has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the US entity is not liable for actions in the UK and pointing to First Amendment protections for third-party content. A TikTok spokesperson expressed condolences to the families involved and underscored the platform’s strict policies against dangerous content, noting that 99% of violating content is removed before it is reported. The spokesperson also affirmed that TikTok complies with UK data protection laws.
Importantly, the online challenge implicated by the families has reportedly been blocked on TikTok since 2020. However, the ongoing lawsuit highlights broader concerns about social media’s role in safeguarding vulnerable users and the urgent need for reform.