Yesterday, myself and six other bereaved parents from ‘The Bereaved Families for Online Safety’ Group met with Ofcom and Presidio Safeguarding as part of their ‘Lived Experience group meeting’ to discuss Deceased Child User duties. The UK's Data (Use and Access) Bill, which became law on June 19, 2025, includes provisions for parents or guardians to access a deceased child's online data. Specifically, a parent or guardian can request data from the preceding 12 months before the child's death fro

Ellen Roome suspects her 14-year-old was taking part in a ‘blackout challenge’ when he died. But she can’t access his online accounts – so she has given up everything to take on the social media giants

Ellen Roome wants families to be given access to user data after the death of a loved one.

215 likes, 11 comments - bbcbreakfast on April 24, 2025: "'This is a global problem, we've got to change things' Ellen Roome, whose son Jools died by suicide after she believed he took part in an online challenge, spoke to #BBCBreakfast in New York where she joined other British parents taking legal action against social media companies https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0lz2x60w46o".

995 likes, 26 comments - jonkay01 on April 25, 2025: "What an extraordinary, inspiring and dignified group of parents and siblings. I first met most of these grieving mums and dads on the BBC Breakfast sofa a year ago. This week they invited us to spend a couple of days with them in New York, as they stepped up their campaign for better online safety. Each of their stories is different but they all believe that social media may have played a role in their children’s deaths. Their message will strike a chord with any parent. We thank them for trusting us. And for being so generous with their time as they built their network in the US, took part in protests and even met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the rooftop of a Manhattan skyscraper. They gave us an exclusive broadcast interview for BBCBreakfast. These families share the most unbelievable resilience. We are committed to following their stories on Breakfast. #socialmedia #onlineharm #bbcbreakfast #newyork #bbcnews #behindscenes".

New online safety rules put the profits of Big Tech firms ahead of children's safety, campaigners warned last night.

Why is Ellen suing TikTok for the death of her 14-year-old child, Jools?

The US-based Social Media Victims Law Center filed the wrongful death lawsuit on Thursday.

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Sue is joined by Angeline Corvaglia, creator of Data Girl and Friends, Ged Flynn from Papyrus (a UK charity dedicated to suicide prevention), and activist Ellen Roome. Key Topics Discussed: The impact of digital environments on mental health, especially for young people. Ged shares insights into Papyrus’s mission and the challenges of addressing suicide, emphasizing communication and community engagement. Ellen discusses her advocacy for Jools Law, stemming from her personal experience of losing her son to suicide. She highlights the importance of parents accessing their deceased children’s social media accounts. Tips for recognizing warning signs and creating supportive environments.

A summary of the most recent meeting with representatives from the main social media platforms

I want parents/guardians to have the right to be given access to their children's social media accounts, by social media providers, both when the child is alive and if they are deceased.