Cheltenham Mum Fights Snapchat and Meta After Son’s Tragic Death
A grieving mother is challenging social media giants after her son’s death linked to an online challenge
Cheltenham, UK, Jools Sweeney, Ellen Roome, Snapchat, Meta, Online Challenges, Mental Health
Cheltenham: A heartbroken mum is taking on Snapchat and Meta after her son, Jools, tragically took his life. He was just 14 and was found in his room. The coroner couldn’t confirm if he was feeling suicidal, which makes it even harder for his family.
Ellen Roome, 48, believes that Jools’ online accounts might hold the key to understanding what happened. She’s been pushing for access to his social media, convinced it could explain why he felt he had to end his life.
Jools was really into online challenges, and Ellen worries he might have gotten caught up in something dangerous, like the Blackout challenge, which has been linked to other tragic deaths.
She’s started a campaign called “Jools’ Law” to help parents access their children’s social media accounts if they pass away. So far, her petition has gathered over 126,000 signatures and was even discussed in Parliament.
It’s been a nightmare for Ellen since she found Jools unconscious in April 2022. Without access to his social media, she feels lost and can’t figure out what led to that awful day.
She remembers Jools as a happy kid, always laughing and surrounded by friends. It was a total shock when he died. Just an hour and a half before, they were chatting like normal.
Now, Ellen is determined to find out what happened. She fears Jools might have stumbled upon some of those viral challenges that can be so harmful.
She’s spent a lot of money on legal fees trying to get information from Jools’ accounts, but it’s been tough. She’s had meetings with TikTok and reached out to Meta and Snapchat, but without a court order, they can’t help her.
When asked about how the companies have responded, she said it’s been disappointing. TikTok won’t give her access without a court order, and while Meta shared some info, it wasn’t enough. Snapchat has allowed her to see some messages, but deleted ones are gone for good.
Jools’ data is no longer available on TikTok because they have to delete personal data after a certain time unless it’s needed for legal reasons. They said they weren’t trying to block Ellen from getting answers, but it’s frustrating for her.
She’s not looking for revenge; she just wants answers. Ellen has even set up a fundraising page to help with her legal costs. She’s determined to keep fighting for transparency and safety online so that no other family has to go through what she has.
After the parliamentary debate, she felt hopeful. Every MP supported her petition, and she’s optimistic about getting changes made to the data laws.
It’s a tough road ahead, but Ellen is committed to her cause. She just wants to make sure that other parents don’t have to suffer like she has.
Meta has been contacted for a comment regarding this situation.