Bereaved mum makes demand to ‘save’ other parents’ kids after her son’s death

Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son died in unclear circumstances in 2022, told MPs this is ‘not a theoretical debate’, warning that more children will ‘remain exposed to harm’

A bereaved mum who believes her son’s death is linked to online harms has hit out at MPs who rejected a social media ban for under 16s.

Ellen Roome, whose son Julian “Jools” Sweeney, 14, died in unclear circumstances in 2022, said she was “very disappointed” MPs rejected a proposal for a ban on Monday evening by 307 to 173 votes.

She told MPs this is “not a theoretical debate”, warning that more children will “remain exposed to harm” online while the three-month consultation is carried out.

“I don’t have any other children to save,” Ms Roome told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. “This isn’t about saving my children, this is about making a difference for other children and I am so determined that we are not going to fail, that we are going to change the law and we’re going to protect more children.”

The government has insisted it will come to a judgement on a social media ban for under-16s after a consultation on the proposal closes in the summer months. Labour veteran John McDonnell rebelled against the government to back the move while over 100 backbenchers abstained.

READ MORE: Social media ban for kids ‘will happen’ says ex-schools chief in dramatic vote

Ms Roome, who is suing TikTok with other British families over their children’s deaths, told The Mirror : “For families like mine, this is not a theoretical debate. My 14-year-old son Jools died in 2022, and since then I have met many other parents whose children have also been harmed through social media platforms.

“We know the risks are real, and we know the current protections are not enough. What we are asking for is simple: meaningful action that puts children’s safety ahead of the interests of tech companies. A consultation is not the same as protection, and while we continue to delay, more children remain exposed to harm.”

Ms Roome on Tuesday organised an open letter signed by 23 bereaved parents criticising Keir Starmer for not voting in the Commons for a social media ban. “For all your talk of leadership, you remain firmly on the fence when it comes to protecting children and preventing more avoidable deaths online,” the letter said.

The National Education Union (NEU), which represents hundreds of thousands of school staff, also expressed “disappointment” over the vote on a ban. NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede said: “MPs had the opportunity to put the wellbeing of children before the profits of Big Tech and vote to raise the age of social media access to 16.

“If the Government is serious about protecting children, it will listen to the calls of teachers, bereaved parents, health professionals, charities and community groups.

“Only a ban for under-16s can provide the immediate safeguard needed to protect young people from dangerous, algorithmic platforms. All energy must now be on how to enforce it properly.”

The debate over a social media ban erupted in the UK after Australia implemented one at the end of last year, while other European countries including Spain have put forward similar plans.

But some experts, including the NSPCC and Ian Russell, the dad of 14-year-old Molly Russell who took her own life due to online harms, have warned against rushing into a ban as they fear it will push young people into other dark spaces online.

The Government has said its consultation will gather evidence on the best route, including whether to introduce a social media ban for under 16s, overnight curfews, doom-scrolling restrictions or limiting virtual private networks (VPNs).

Elsewhere, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has asked Ofcom to report on which social media companies are failing to implement measures to protect women and girls online.