Ellen Roome, a mother from Gloucestershire, has been campaigning tirelessly for enhanced online safety following the tragic death of her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney. She believes Jools died attempting a dangerous online challenge and has since urged the government to take stronger action to protect children from online harms.
Speaking at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, where she was awarded an MBE for her work in children’s online safety, Ms Roome expressed frustration that her requests for a meeting with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have been consistently ignored. Along with 27 other bereaved parents, she has sought to share their personal stories directly with Starmer, hoping to influence policy changes.
Ms Roome campaigns for legal reforms to grant bereaved parents access to their late children’s social media accounts. She believes this access may provide vital insights into her son’s final moments and the circumstances leading to his death. However, her attempts to obtain this information have been unsuccessful.
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She said, “I have a meeting with Wes Streeting on June 2, but the PM won’t meet us.” She recalled how, after handing a letter to Downing Street, Starmer met with major tech companies the very next day, prompting her to question why families affected by online tragedies don’t receive the same attention.
Highlighting the emotional toll, Ms Roome said, “The tech companies left Downing Street laughing, which was really hurtful. All of us here have lost children, and to see this indifference is heartbreaking.”
Despite receiving a response from Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, her direct requests to Sir Keir remain unanswered. “No,” she said when asked if the Prime Minister had replied.
In a heartfelt plea, Ms Roome addressed Starmer directly: “Come on, PM, give us a meeting. We don’t have huge lobbying budgets like tech firms, but we have powerful stories that need to be heard.”
During the ceremony, Prince William reportedly emphasized the importance of tackling the harmful content children are exposed to online. Ms Roome echoed these concerns, pointing to dangerous algorithms and the risk of contact with strangers as critical issues needing urgent attention.
Additionally, she supports efforts led by Lord Nash, who proposed banning social media for under-16s—a step she believes could help protect young users from online risks. Lord Nash recently congratulated her on her MBE award.
A Government spokesperson said: “Ellen Roome and countless parents like her have been powerful voices in calling for a safer online world for children. The Prime Minister shares that determination. As he has said before, this is not a question of if we act, but how. That’s why we have launched a consultation looking at everything from age limits and safer design features to a social media ban. We’re also running pilots with UK families and engaging with parents, children, and experts to ensure we take the best approach.”