Mother of boy who may have died in TikTok challenge urges No 10 to ban social media
Ellen Roome, mother of a boy who died at 14, is advocating for a ban on social media for those under 16, citing safety concerns. She believes the government has been slow to act and urges immediate measures to protect children. The discussion comes as a consultation on the issue is set to conclude soon.
- ▪Ellen Roome's son, Jools Sweeney, died allegedly due to a TikTok challenge.
- ▪Roome is calling for a ban on social media for under-16s until it is deemed safe.
- ▪Former health secretary Wes Streeting has compared social media to tobacco, emphasizing its addictive nature.
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Ellen Roome with her son, Jools Sweeney, who died when he was 14. Photograph: Ellen Roome/PAView image in fullscreenEllen Roome with her son, Jools Sweeney, who died when he was 14. Photograph: Ellen Roome/PASocial mediaMother of boy who may have died in TikTok challenge urges No 10 to ban social mediaEllen Roome, whose son, Jools Sweeney, was 14 when he died, wants a ban put in place for under-16sJessica Elgot Deputy political editorTue 26 May 2026 04.34 EDTLast modified on Tue 26 May 2026 04.35 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe mother of a teenager who believes he died in a TikTok challenge gone wrong has said that Downing Street has been too slow to move towards a social media ban for under-16s, and accused the government of “kicking it down the road”.Ellen Roome, the mother of…
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