Media Coverage

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

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

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