Media Coverage

Ellen Roome discussing social media and raising the age to 16

Following a landmark legal victory in Los Angeles against social media platforms, Ellen Roome and Andy Burrows from the Molly Rose Foundation discuss why this moment matters and why the UK must now act. These are some of the most powerful companies in the world, but as Ellen makes clear: “I’m not nervous, I’m not frightened. Bring it on.”

Ban social media for under 18s? Ellen Roome, Mike Parry & Zoë Grünewald

Ellen discussing social media ban

Tonight Ellen Roome appeared on ITV News across Anglia, Central, Meridian, Tyne Tees, West Country and Yorkshire, speaking about the urgent need to better protect children online. Ellen is supporting Lord Nash’s proposal to raise the minimum age for social media to 16. Children are being exposed to harmful content far too young, and we must take meaningful action to safeguard them. This is not about restricting childhood, it’s about protecting it. #joolslaw #onlinesafety #raisetheage #globalissue #protectchildren

Ellen Roome MBE appeared live on LBC for Online Safety Day, speaking about why she fully supports MPs voting in the House of Commons to #RaiseTheAge of social media to 16. Ellen’s 14-year-old son Jools died in 2022. Since then, she has been campaigning for change so that children are better protected online and families are able to get answers when tragedy strikes. During the interview, Ellen explained that children are being exposed to harmful content online every single day and that action cannot continue to be delayed while families live with the consequences. She also spoke about the ongoing wait for the Attorney General to approve her application to seek a fresh inquest into Jools’ death. If approved, Ellen will be able to apply to the High Court for a new inquest and use the Data Use and Access Act to request Jools’ social media data in order to understand what happened to her son. 🌐 https://www.joolslaw.co.uk #joolslaw #onlinesafety

An interview with Ross Moss, who lost her daughter Sophie 12 years ago, Hollie Dance, whose son Archie had his accident just six days before Jools, and Ellen Roome, whose son Jools died on 13 April 2022. More than a decade later, we are still having the same conversations about protecting children and accessing their social media data. Why are we still talking about it when children are being harmed and are dying? Only last weekend, Ellen was contacted by the mother of another boy, aged just 15, who had taken his own life. This has to stop!

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott holding news conference. The pair will discuss student loans and social media policy. #conservative #education #socialmedia #live SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: http://www.youtube.com/skynews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/skynews Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skynews Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skynews Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skynews For more content go to http://news.sky.com and download our apps: Apple https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sky-news/id316391924?mt=8 Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bskyb.skynews.android&hl=en_GB Sky News Daily podcast is available for free here: https://podfollow.com/skynewsdaily/ To enquire about licensing Sky News content, you can find more information here: https://news.sky.com/info/library-sales

Ellen Roome appears on BBC Breakfast to discuss the latest progress on Jools’ Law. Following confirmation from Liz Kendall, Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Government has committed to introducing a Jools’ Law amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. The amendment will require social media companies to automatically preserve a child’s social media data within five days of their death, removing barriers for bereaved families seeking answers. This is a vital step forward for transparency and accountability online, ensuring that no grieving parent has to fight simply to access the information that may explain what happened to their child.

Ellen Roome discusses changes to the law following a phone call with Liz Kendall, Secretary of State, confirming the Government’s commitment to incorporate Jools’ Law into legislation.

Ellen Roome appears on GMB to discuss the latest progress on Jools’ Law. Following confirmation from Liz Kendall, Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Government has committed to introducing a Jools’ Law amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. The amendment will require social media companies to automatically preserve a child’s social media data within five days of their death, removing barriers for bereaved families seeking answers. This is a vital step forward for transparency and accountability online, ensuring that no grieving parent has to fight simply to access the information that may explain what happened to their child.

Ellen Roome discusses the latest progress on Jools’ Law. Following confirmation from Liz Kendall, Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Government has committed to introducing a Jools’ Law amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. The amendment will require social media companies to automatically preserve a child’s social media data within five days of their death, removing barriers for bereaved families seeking answers. This is a vital step forward for transparency and accountability online, ensuring that no grieving parent has to fight simply to access the information that may explain what happened to their child.

Ellen Roome talking to ITV West Country 16th Feb 2026 regarding Government decision to include automatic data preservation when a child dies in the Crime and Policing bill.

13th Feb 2026 I had the honour of speaking at the Lost Screen Memorial, part of the #NoChildLostToSocialMedia campaign launched by Archewell Foundation, founded by Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to protect children from online harms such as bullying, sexual exploitation and dangerous viral challenges. The memorial stood in Gloria Molina Grand Park, directly across from Los Angeles City Hall and just one block from the courthouse where the landmark social media addiction trials have begun. Fifty illuminated smartphones stood in the park. Fifty children. Fifty lives cut short. Jools is one of them. To see his face shining from one of those screens, in the shadow of the courtroom where families are demanding accountability, was overwhelming. The memorial was spearheaded by Archewell Foundation and supported by ParentsTogether Action and Heat Initiative. It is about humanising what has too often been reduced to statistics. I spoke alongside extraordinary voices including • @jonathanhaidt , author of The Anxious Generation • Sarah Gardner, CEO of Heat Initiative • James Holt from Archewell Foundation • Shelby Knox, Director of Tech Accountability Campaigns at ParentsTogether Action • Lennon Torres, youth LGBTQ+ advocate and Campaigns and Programs Manager at Heat Initiative And most importantly, brave parents who have turned unimaginable grief into action. More than 2,000 plaintiffs are now taking on companies including Meta, Snap Inc., TikTok and Alphabet Inc.. This litigation is already being compared to the cases that changed the course of Big Tobacco. As I said yesterday: since Jools died, social media companies have refused to provide Jools’ full online data about what happened to my son. But here in Los Angeles, his light is shining. And it is shining on a movement that will not stop until there is accountability and change. These are not numbers. They are children. And this does not have to be this way.

Live on Good Morning Britain this morning in the UK Talking about the lawsuit in Los Angeles and why this fight matters so much. I also discussed meeting Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and how I am determined to change the law so no other family is left without answers when a child dies. My words "I'm going to do this, I am going to change the law"!

Parents share their stories of loss outside Snapchat offices in Santa Monica, as they paint the names of children who have died from what they say are harmful social media practices. For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com

Grieving families gathered outside of social media app Snapchat's headquarters in Los Angeles to protest and remember the lives of their lost children.

Ellen spoke about why she is in Los Angeles, standing alongside other bereaved parents as the landmark case against social media companies unfolds. We cannot ignore what is happening in that courtroom. The BBC also shared a clip from our meeting with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, who took time to listen to families like mine and understand the urgent need for change. And today, Adam Mosseri, Instagram's CEO, was in the LA court. These companies are finally being asked difficult questions about how their platforms impact children. This is about truth, transparency, and protecting the next generation.

Live from Santa Monica, we spoke with Sky News as a landmark trial begins in California against major social media companies. The case has been brought by American families who have lost their children. Families who were never warned about online harms, never protected by the platforms their children used, and never given full access to the truth after their deaths. We are here to stand in solidarity with bereaved parents and to make clear that this is not just a US issue or a UK issue. It is a global crisis. The same social media platforms, algorithms, and design choices are affecting children all over the world. This trial matters far beyond the courtroom. It is about accountability, transparency, and whether social media companies can continue to avoid responsibility for the harm caused to children. Parents across the world are watching. And we will not stop asking difficult questions. Thank you to Sky News for giving families a voice and helping shine a light on why this moment matters. #OnlineSafety #ProtectChildren #SocialMediaAccountability #BereavedFamilies #GlobalIssue #StandingTogether #joolslaw

In the House of Lords, the formidable Baroness Beeban Kidron debated what I have come to call Jools’ Law. It was an incredibly powerful and emotional debate, made even more so by the strong, compassionate and supportive contributions from peers across all parties. In particular, the passionate and deeply thoughtful support from Baroness Barran, Lord Clement-Jones, Baroness Benjamin and Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson meant more than I can say. Up in the gallery, bereaved parents (Hollie Dance, Lisa Kenevan & Mariano Janin and I) sat watching in tears, for the first time feeling real hope that this amendment might actually go through. One moment that will stay with me forever was when Baroness Kidron said: “The Government awarded Ellen Roome an MBE recently. I believe, although I have not asked her, that a more fitting recognition would be to give her what she has long fought for, Jools’ Law, by accepting these amendments so that data collection is automatic. They are practical, they are necessary, and they are long overdue.” Baroness Benjamin spoke with enormous compassion and urgency, saying: “After hearing on BBC News this morning some of the heartbreaking stories from bereaved parents who are campaigning on this issue and urging the Government to take more robust action, I was convinced that tragic cases such as these clearly highlight the need for social media companies to be compelled to protect our children and safeguard them from harm......I hope the Government are listening and is Ofcom listening? I want them to listen to these bereaved parents and take further action. I urge the Government to accept these much-needed amendments and act now.” Baroness Diana Barran also paid tribute, saying: “I pay particular tribute to Ellen Roome, mother of Jools, who died inexplicably aged 14. Ellen Roome has found herself at the front of a national call for change in relation to children’s access to social media in general and to these specific issues, which have impacted her family and other families so cruelly. My noble friend Lady Morgan of Cotes, who cannot be with us today, told me how moved she was when we met Ellen recently. I can only agree.” The Minister, Baroness Levitt, does not currently support approving the amendment, citing concerns about administrative burden in cases such as road traffic accidents or illness. However, she has agreed to meet with Beeban, me, and other bereaved parents to discuss this further. Beeban was clear that by the voting stage, likely around April 2026, there is a real opportunity to persuade the House of Lords to pass this amendment and that she wasn't taking no for an answer!!

Sky News regarding upcoming Jools Law Debate in the House of Lords

In the House of Lords, Baroness Berger raised the issue of litigation brought by bereaved British parents against TikTok following the deaths of their children. She asked what assessment the Government had made of the implications of this legal action. Responding for the Government, Baroness Lloyd of Effra acknowledged the case and expressed sympathy for the families. She stated that powers under the Online Safety Act have been commenced to require information from platforms about a child’s online activity following their death, and that a data preservation process has been established to prevent the loss of relevant information. Baroness Berger followed up by highlighting that parents, including Ellen Roome, have spent years trying to access their children’s social media data, only to find that crucial digital evidence is often not requested in the early period and is routinely deleted or lost. She urged the Government to introduce automatic digital data preservation in every child death so that these tragedies can be fully and properly investigated.

BBC follow Ellen Roome and other bereaved parents, to hand delivered a letter to Downing Street calling for stronger enforcement of the Online Safety Act. The letter raises serious concerns about whether Ofcom is actually able to enforce the law, collect fines from tech companies, respond to emerging harms such as AI, and be transparent and accountable when children are being harmed online. Laws only protect children if they are properly enforced. We should not have to fight this hard just to make the system work and protect children. We keep going. For your children, because it’s too late for ours. 🕊️ hashtag#socialmedia hashtag#joolslaw hashtag#OnlineSafety

Ellen Roome & Esther Ghey on Laura Kuenssberg Show with Jonathan Haidt Jonathan Haidt, one of the world’s leading experts on social media and children’s mental health, says it plainly: “this is bonkers”. We need to change the age limit for social media. It should be 16. We cannot keep ignoring the evidence while children are being harmed. It’s time for action, not excuses.

Ellen Roome appeared on Sky News ahead of the House of Lords debate on Lord Nash’s amendment to raise the minimum age for social media to 16. This is not about preventing children from using the internet, learning, or accessing positive and supportive resources. It is about recognising that today’s social media platforms are not designed with children’s wellbeing at their core, but to maximise engagement, often at significant cost. Until platforms are genuinely safe, there is a clear responsibility to protect children.

Ellen talks to viewers about TikTok and banning social media

This is my interview with the BBC Breakfast team today. One of the most crucial things to come out of this discussion is the misunderstanding around raising the age of social media to 16. This does not mean stopping children from accessing the internet or valuable, supportive sites like the NSPCC.  What we are saying is simple: increase the age of social media so children are not being subjected to harmful content on platforms that are built to addict them, damaging their mental health, eyesight and physical posture through addictive and dangerous social media apps. #BBCBreakfast #OnlineSafety #RaiseTheAge #joolslaw

Five families who are suing TikTok in America over the deaths of their children have begun an agonising wait to see if their case will be taken to trial following a hearing in Delaware on Friday. The parents of 14-year-old Jools Sweeney, 13-year-old Isaac Kenevan, 11-year-old Noah Gibson, 12-year-old Archie Battersbee and 13-year-old Maia Walsh believe their children died whilst trying an online challenge that was the result of addictive programming aimed at driving engagement to the social media site. A spokesperson for TikTok told ITV News: 'Our deepest sympathies remain with these families. We strictly prohibit content that promotes or encourages dangerous behaviour.' 'Using robust detection systems and dedicated enforcement teams to proactively identify and remove this content, we remove 99% that's found to break these rules before it is reported to us.' Hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls are  joined by Jools' mum Ellen, Isaac's mum Lisa, Noah's mum Louise and Archie's mum Hollie. Broadcast on 19/01/2026. Stream Good Morning Britain live, every weekday from 6am on the ITVX 📲 http://daytimelink.itv.com/WatchGMBYT Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1NbomQa Like, follow and subscribe to Good Morning Britain! The Good Morning Britain YouTube channel delivers you the news that you’re waking up to in the morning. From exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in politics and showbiz to heartwarming human interest stories and unmissable watch again moments. Join Susanna Reid, Ed Balls, Kate Garraway, Richard Madeley, Charlotte Hawkins and Sean Fletcher every weekday on ITV from 6am until 9 every weekday! ITVX: http://daytimelink.itv.com/WatchGMBYT Website: http://bit.ly/1GsZuha YouTube: http://bit.ly/1Ecy0g1 Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1HEDRMb Twitter: http://bit.ly/1xdLqU3 http://www.itv.com #tiktok #uk #usa

A mother who is one of a group of British parents suing TikTok after the deaths of their children said she wants "accountability" from the social media firm. Ellen Roome is in the US for the first day of the hearing, filed by the Social Media Victims Law Centre. "It's about time we held them to account and said 'what are you showing our children?'" she said. The lawsuit claims her son Julian "Jools" Sweeney, Isaac Kenevan, Archie Battersbee, Noah Gibson, and Maia Walsh all died while attempting a "blackout challenge". A TikTok spokesperson said: "We strictly prohibit content that promotes or encourages dangerous behaviour." Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news #TikTok #BBCNews

British families sue TikTok in US Underscoring the tensions, a US state judge in Delaware on Jan. 16, 2026 hears TikTok's bid to dismiss a lawsuit filed last year by the parents of five British children who died while allegedly performing prank and challenge videos. The lawsuit alleged that TikTok's algorithms promoted dangerous content to children, including a so-called 'blackout challenge' that encouraged people to choke themselves. 'ByteDance harmed these children after its leadership knew that its programming decisions were resulting in the accidental deaths of children,' the lawsuit filed in the Delaware Superior Court said. Some of the children were below 13 years old. TikTok in 2022 secured the dismissal of a separate lawsuit accusing it of causing the death of a 10-year-old girl. STRINGR.COM / ABC AFFILIATE WPVI VIA REUTERS Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe Visit our website at [https://www.manilatimes.net](https://www.manilatimes.net/) Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein #TheManilaTimes #WorldNews

Delaware Superior Court Jan 16, 2026 heard TikTok/ByteDance motion to dismiss lawsuit from 5 British families (Ellen Roome, Lisa Kenevan, Liam Walsh et al) claiming algorithms promoted deadly "blackout challenge" killing their kids under 13. Parents seek children's data (discovery phase if motion fails); TikTok cites 1st Amendment/CDA immunity, claims UK jurisdiction. Case could force data release if survives dismissal. #TikTokBlackoutChallenge #ChildDeathsTikTok #AlgorithmMurder #BereavedParents #SocialMediaKills #ByteDanceLawsuit #DelawareHearing #KidsNotContent #PlatformLiability #JoolsLaw --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dawn News English is your window into the latest news, insight, and features from South Asia and beyond. Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawndotcom/ Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/dawn_com Website: www.dawn.com Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawnnewsenglish #news #latestnews #dawnnewsenglish #dawnnews

► Five British families are taking TikTok to court in the US, over the deaths of their children: Jools Sweeney, Maia Walsh, Isaac Kenevan, Archie Battersbee and Noah Gibson. Their parents say they all died after watching harmful content on the app. ► Have you subscribed to 5 News?: http://bit.ly/5NewsSub ► Follow 5 News on Twitter to keep up to date with the latest news - https://twitter.com/5_News Message us on Facebook to share your opinion - https://www.facebook.com/c5News See our latest pictures and videos on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/c5news/ ► About 5 News: We bring you the stories that matter to you, from around the world and across the UK. 🎥 We post daily playlists with the biggest news of the day, interviews, special reports and investigations. 📺 Catch us on TV on Channel 5 every weekday 5-6pm 📱 Get in touch with us on WhatsApp at +44 7555 500 501 🎧 Listen to "How Did We Get Here? Explaining The News" wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/how-did-we-get-here-explaining-the-news Our flagship, hour-long programme at 5pm is watched on Channel 5 by up to a million viewers, with regular news updates throughout the day. ITN changed the TV news landscape when it launched 5 News in 1997, producing Five News for nine years before winning the contract to supply news to Channel 5 again from 2012.

Six families are suing TikTok , claiming the company's algorithm has a defect, is addictive, and targets minors with disturbing and troubling content. On Friday, a judge in Delaware heard a motion to dismiss the civil case on behalf of five British families and a Delaware family. The case centers on those six families whose children aged 11 to 17 allegedly took part in a choking challenge after seeing videos on the popular app. All died in recent years. #lawsuit #fyp #news https://6abc.com/post/families-sue-tiktok-deaths-children-apparent-choking-challenge/18417280/

BBC breakfast interview before court case against Tiktok in Delaware US

A mother who is one of a group of British parents suing TikTok after the deaths of their children said she wants "accountability" from the social media firm. Ellen Roome is in the US for the first day of the hearing, filed by the Social Media Victims Law Centre. "It's about time we held them to account and said 'what are you showing our children?'" she said. The lawsuit claims her son Julian "Jools" Sweeney, Isaac Kenevan, Archie Battersbee, Noah Gibson, and Maia Walsh all died while attempting a "blackout challenge". A TikTok spokesperson said: "We strictly prohibit content that promotes or encourages dangerous behaviour." Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news #TikTok #BBCNews

Five British families are suing one of the biggest social media companies in the world TikTok, and its parent company ByteDance, for the alleged wrongful deaths of their children. Ellen Roome found her 14-year-old son, Jools, unconscious in his bedroom almost four years ago. An inquest found he took his own life - Ellen has always believed it was a popular online challenge that went wrong, but she could not get social media giant TikTok to give her access to Jools' accounts. After some back and forth, the company said it was a privacy issue. Ellen has always believed Jools' social media accounts could provide her with the answers. She is not alone in her quest - since Jools died in April 2022 she has been joined by parents in a similar situation. Their joint lawsuit claims that Isaac Kenevan, 13, Archie Battersbee, 12, Julian "Jools" Sweeney, 14, Maia Walsh, 13, and Noah Gibson, 11, were harmed by algorithms which amplified harmful content to their pages. Isaac's mum Lisa Kenevan, Maia's dad Liam Walsh along with Ellen are now all heading for the States. Broadcast on 15/01/2026 Stream Good Morning Britain live, every weekday from 6am on the ITVX 📲 http://daytimelink.itv.com/WatchGMBYT Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1NbomQa Like, follow and subscribe to Good Morning Britain! The Good Morning Britain YouTube channel delivers you the news that you’re waking up to in the morning. From exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in politics and showbiz to heartwarming human interest stories and unmissable watch again moments. Join Susanna Reid, Ed Balls, Kate Garraway, Richard Madeley, Charlotte Hawkins and Sean Fletcher every weekday on ITV from 6am until 9 every weekday! ITVX: http://daytimelink.itv.com/WatchGMBYT Website: http://bit.ly/1GsZuha YouTube: http://bit.ly/1Ecy0g1 Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1HEDRMb Twitter: http://bit.ly/1xdLqU3 http://www.itv.com #GMB

Technology reporter Mickey Carroll has spoken to a group of parents, who say their legal action is about holding social media companies accountable, and making sure children are safe. They believe Isaac Kenevan, Archie Battersbee, Jools Sweeney, Maia Walsh and Noah Gibson, died after attempting dangerous challenges they'd seen online. If you've been affected by this story and want to talk to someone, you can call the Samaritans free on 116 123 or at jo@samaritans.org SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: http://www.youtube.com/skynews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/skynews Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skynews Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skynews Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skynews For more content go to http://news.sky.com and download our apps: Apple https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sky-news/id316391924?mt=8 Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bskyb.skynews.android&hl=en_GB Sky News Daily podcast is available for free here: https://podfollow.com/skynewsdaily/ To enquire about licensing Sky News content, you can find more information here: https://news.sky.com/info/library-sales #tiktok #onlinesafety #parents

Disscusion on upcoming trip to court hearing against Tiktok

BREAKING NEWS RE JOOLS' INVESTIGATION Today I pre-recorded an interview with BBC News Points West. During that process, I was informed by the BBC that the police do, in fact, hold the original forensic image taken in April 2022, at the time my son Jools died. This original forensic image was never examined by police. I am also extremely concerned that I learned this information from the BBC rather than from Gloucestershire Constabulary, despite having explicitly asked this question in previous meetings and awaiting their response. Families should not have to discover fundamental facts about their child’s case through journalists. I also want to acknowledge Mick Randall, who was interviewed live for this piece. Mick is from Fedora Investigations and has been invaluable in getting us to this stage. His experience, persistence, and forensic rigour have brought scrutiny and challenge where it was long overdue. Without his professionalism and determination, we would not be here. Thank you, Mick. I sincerely hope this original forensic image now provides answers, clarity, and truth about what happened during the critical period before Jools died. This once again underlines why automatic preservation of children's online data - Jools'Law is essential! This must be standard practice from the outset. I will keep going until we have answers.

Ellen Roome has been awarded an MBE as a Campaigner, for services to Children’s Online Safety, in the King’s 2026 New Year Honours List.

Ellen Roome has been awarded an MBE as a Campaigner, for services to Children’s Online Safety, in the King’s 2026 New Year Honours List.

Ellen Roome is awarded MBE as a Campaigner, for services to Children’s Online Safety, in the King’s 2026 New Year Honours List

Ellen Roome shared three important updates. 1) Gloucestershire Police have now escalated the review into the circumstances of Jools’ death following the independent report that highlighted serious golden-hour failings. 2) In Parliament, a tabled amendment in the House of Lords could finally change the Crime and Policing Bill so that children’s online data is automatically preserved after their death, preventing other families from facing the same barriers Ellen has. 3) Featuristic Films has begun work on a scripted TV drama based on Ellen's journey, shining a much wider light on the fight for truth, accountability and Jools’ Law.

BBC Morning Live aired today, highlighting an issue no parent should ever have to fight for, access to their child’s digital data after death. Right now in the UK, when a child dies, there is no automatic data preservation notice. This means their online information — messages, searches, interactions, location data — can be deleted, altered or lost within hours. In Jools’ case, vital evidence from his final hours simply wasn’t preserved. His devices weren’t secured. His accounts weren’t frozen. The golden hour was missed. No parent should have to spend years battling for something that should happen instantly. Jools’ Law would fix this. It would require police and platforms to immediately preserve a child’s digital data so that the coroner can access it. This isn’t about blame. It’s about truth, safeguarding and ensuring no parent is left in the dark. Jools’ Law won’t help Jools now — but it will help other families get the answers they deserve.

I also mentioned the report now sitting in my inbox from Mick Randall at Fedora Investigations, with the latest findings from my private investigation into my son’s death.It’s taken a lot of strength to reach this point. I’ll find the courage to read these new developments this afternoon and then, with my team, decide how to move forward — for Jools, and for every child who deserves better protection online. #joolslaw #digitalaccountability #onlinesafety I

Instagram says teen accounts will now be guided by PG13 movie ratings. At first, that sounds positive, and anything that helps stop children from seeing harmful content is welcome. But the reality is we will have to wait and see what really happens. Is this a genuine change or just a PR stunt? Have they finally listened to parents and put extra protections in place for children? I am concerned about how easily teens can still create multiple accounts, one linked to their parents and others with fake ages. Without proper verification or stronger safeguards, harmful content will continue to slip through. Real safety means transparency, independent oversight, and genuine accountability, not marketing language. It would be wonderful to see a duty of candour and an overarching duty of care embedded into how these companies operate. Let’s hope this isn’t a PR stunt and that Meta is genuinely trying to do better. If so, this might be a small but meaningful step towards reducing the harms children face online. #JoolsLaw #OnlineSafety #ChildProtection #SocialMediaReform #DigitalAccountability

In principle, Data Preservation Notices (DPNs) sound helpful. In practice, they don’t work. These notices finally came into effect today Tuesday 30th September under the Online Safety Act. However when a child dies, an inquest is opened but then usually suspended pending the police investigation. At that point, the coroner loses control and the investigation passes back to the police. Unless the child’s online data is preserved immediately, crucial evidence can be lost. I know of several other parents in exactly this position: coroners have told them they cannot use the law under the Online Safety Act because the case has passed back to the police. This is crazy and it MUST change. That’s why I am fighting for #JoolsLaw: when a child dies, their online data should be preserved automatically. Only then will it be available for a proper investigation into their death. This isn’t about my son Jools, it’s too late for him/us. It’s about every family who deserves answers. (I also want to stress I was being sarcastic when I said the app LMK is safe, and I want to apologise for getting Kibi's name incorrect, I said Bibi).

Interview with Lady Sophie Winkleman, Katharine Birbalsingh (founder and headmistress of the Michaela Community School in London), and Ellen Roome discussing online safety.

Ellen Roome has been tirelessly fighting for legislative change since her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, died by suicide in April 2022. Now, Ellen has joined forces with two other bereaved mothers who share her devastating experience of losing a child whilst being denied access to crucial phone data. Together, Ellen Roome, Hollie Dance, and Lisa Keneven have launched a groundbreaking, free online safety resource designed to educate children about the serious risks posed by dangerous internet challenges. United by unimaginable tragedy, the three mothers are demanding that both the government and social media platforms take far greater responsibility for protecting young people from harmful and inappropriate content that continues to circulate unchecked.

I think it’s good that porn sites will be age verified, but I had hoped they would be age verification changes for children on #socialmedia. We now have to wait for September for this. It’s so slow. Children are still being harmed and dying. I didn’t get long enough to ask Melanie the questions I really wanted to ask, such as why WhatsApp is not regulated and when/if ever, they will be. Children are being groomed on this unregulated platform! It's not good enough. We need changes NOW. Such a shame we have to wait until September for age checks on social media #joolslaw