Media Coverage

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

In this powerful episode of Legal4Tech – The Podcast, recorded as part of the #Under24Hours project, we open a necessary and deeply human conversation on the real-world consequences of online harms. Joined by a group of courageous parents who lost their children due to content and dynamics on digital platforms, we reflect on the flaws in current safety frameworks, the silence of Big Tech, and the urgent need for stronger regulation. 💡 Explore topics like: - The barriers families face in accessing platform data - The failures of the Online Safety Act and GDPR interpretation - Platform design, algorithmic harm, and accountability - What real online safety would look like for future generations - Grassroots advocacy, collective strength, and resilience 🎧 Tune in now to hear the voices behind the movement to make tech safer — for everyone! 📌 Recorded during a special group interview hosted by the Legal4Tech team! 🔊 Part of the ongoing #Under24Hours series!

Worried about your child’s online safety in 2025? In this video, we share essential tips for parents on how to protect your kids online from preventing exposure to harmful content to understanding the latest digital threats. Stay informed with up-to-date trends in online safety, and learn practical, expert-backed steps you can take today to keep your child safe on the internet. Watch till the end for actionable advice every parent should know. What would you do if you saw something online that didn’t feel right? Ellen’s here to help us figure it out. Join Gabi and Marnie as they explore internet safety tips and how schools can support young people. This engaging and educational interview focuses on the importance of Internet Safety for children, featuring Ellen Room, a contributor to the Click or Quit resource. Hosted by Gabby and Mani as part of the Lessons for Life campaign, the conversation explores the risks children face online such as harmful content, online challenges, and sharing personal information and offers practical advice on how to respond. Ellen emphasises the need for children to talk to trusted adults when they encounter something unsettling and highlights the value of learning through repetition to reinforce safe online habits. The discussion also touches on the evolving role of PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) in schools, comparing past and present approaches to teaching life skills. Ellen and the hosts stress the importance of educating not just students, but also parents and carers, about digital risks and how to protect children at home. A quiz segment adds an interactive and relatable touch, reinforcing key lessons through real-life scenarios. 00:00 Introduction to Online Safety 00:18 Introduction to the Interview 00:34 About the Click or Quit Assembly 01:04 What to Do When Encountering Harmful Content 01:31 Can There Be Too Many Safety Lessons? 02:01 Ellen’s Online Safety Campaign 02:50 Lessons for Life Campaign 03:31 Ellen’s Childhood PSHE Experience 04:06 Evolution of Life Skills Education 04:30 Interactive Q&A with Ellen on online safety 04:48 Question 1: Keeping Personal Info Private Online 06:00 Question 2: If You See Something Scary Online 06:42 Question 3: Saying No to Online Challenges 08:00 If You Could Change One Thing in Education 08:53 Supporting Parents and Carers 09:17 Life Lessons Ellen Wishes She Learned 09:53 Final Messages This show is powered by 1decision - https://www.1decision.co.uk/ Find out more about the Lessons4Life campaign - https://www.lessons4life.org/ Sign our petition - https://www.change.org/p/lessons4life-fixing-broken-britain Follow us - https://www.instagram.com/lessons4lifeuk_?igsh=NHhvMzA3MXNpdXVh #onlinesafety #podcast #joolslaw

My interview with BBC following my meeting with Ministers in Parliament

The BBC were allowed to film part of my meeting with Ministers in Parliament to discuss The Data Bill

Interview following my meeting with Rt Hon Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.

We are pleased to share the filmed talk by Ellen Roome, recorded at our Annual Parish Meeting on 30 April at Balcarras School, is now available to view online. In this moving and courageous presentation, Ellen shares the heartbreaking story of losing her 14-year-old son, Jools, to the hidden dangers of social media. She speaks about her fight to access his online data and her campaign to hold tech companies accountable for the harmful content reaching our children. Ellen also offers practical tips and essential advice for parents and carers on how to help keep children safe in the digital world. This is a must-watch for any parent, carer, or adult concerned about online safety. 👉 You can also download our joint CKPC & Ellen Roome digital safety leaflet, full of helpful guidance and recommended resources, on our website: https://www.charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk/online-safety Thank you again to Ellen, and to everyone who joined us for such an important evening.

Discussing our march in New York against Meta and the Archewell Foundation Lost Screen Memorial. https://archewell.org/news/unveiling-the-lost-screen-memorial/

Interview with ​⁠ 24th April 2025 regarding Meta protest and memorial with The Archewell Foundation and my meeting with Harry and Megan

I spent the day in Parliament again today listening to the Data (Use and Access) Bill meetings. I extend my thanks to Alex McIntyre (Gloucester MP), who introduced me to Sir Chris Bryant (Minister of State), and then to Max Wilkinson (my MP) for asking Victoria Collins (MP) to raise a point of order in the chamber. Hopefully, this will now mean I will finally be able to discuss my Jools Law request before the report stage of the Data Bill (as Chris Bryant states here). #joolslaw

Here is the recording from Lisa Kenevan and me on Monday with LBC. This is just our snippet from the day. Well done, LBC, for your very informative #onlinesafety day. Excellent guests and information for parents. Well worth relisting to. So much more needs to be done to protect children and parents. Please, please talk to your kids about what they are seeing online, as you have NO legal right to see your children's social media data #joolslaw.

Cliff Sewell interviewed me for a podcast. This is a heartfelt recount of my child loss and resilience to try to make something positive out of my pain. In his words…. TRIGGER WARNING: VIEWER'S DISCRETION ADVISED In today’s episode of The Magical Mindset Podcast with Cliff Sewell, I am joined by social media law-changing campaigner Ellen Roome. Ellen's journey as a campaigner began with an unthinkable tragedy—the loss of her only child, Jools Sweeney, who died in April 2022 at just 14 years old. The coroner could not definitively rule Jools’ death as suicide even though he took his own life, leaving Ellen and her family searching for answers. Ellen discusses that the key to understanding Jools’ state of mind and whether perhaps it was an online challenge that went wrong may lie within his social media footprint. Ellen further explains a significant and devastating barrier: as parents, they have no legal right to access Jools’ social media data, even though he was a minor. Now devoting her life to pushing for legislative change, Ellen spearheads “Jools’ Law,” a campaign advocating for parental access to the digital accounts of deceased minors. Her efforts have garnered widespread support, and the law is currently being discussed in Parliament. Ellen’s work is a testament to her resilience and love for her son, ensuring that Jools’ legacy makes a lasting impact. #JoolsLaw #Loss #Resilience #Inspiration

Max Wilkinson is the Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham and supports my JoolsLaw campaign on BBC's programme 'Any Questions'.

Following the disappointing 2nd Reading of Josh MacAlister OBE MP (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington) private members bill - The Safer Phones Bill.

Minster Sir Chris Byrant 7th March 2025, summing up at The House of Commons after 2nd reading of Josh MacAlister OBE MP (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington) private members bill "The Safer Phones Bill".

Lola McEvoy is the Labour MP for Darlington. She has supported my JoolsLaw campaign since I met her in Parliament last year. Here, on 7 March 2025, she spoke in the House of Commons to continue her support.

I was interviewed for ITV News regarding TikTok and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) investigations about how social media and video-sharing platforms use UK children’s personal information. TikTok was fined £12.7m by the ICO in 2023 and apparently has appealed it and not paid yet.

Why doesn’t a massive tech company KNOW if they have data on Jools.. they ‘might’ have deleted his data!!! ?? Why can’t they hand over everything they have on him and say, “Here is all the data we hold. I hope you get some answers as to why he’s no longer alive. #joolslaw

Max Wilkinson MP, backs #joolslaw There needs to be an amendment to the 'Data bill' so that social media data of a deceased child is AUTOMATICALLY preserved and requested, just like a toxicology report is done with the untimely death of a child. It could give answers as to why a child (like my son Jools) died.

Tiktok 'might' have deleted our children's data

Ellen Roome, Liam Walsh, Lisa Kenevan, Hollie Dance discussing our lawsuit against Tiktok.