Bereaved Mother Leads Fight For Accountability From TikTok

In a packed courtroom in the United States, Ellen Roome sat quietly, clutching a photo of her son, Julian “Jools” Sweeney. It was the first day of a legal battle she never imagined she would have to fight – one against one of the world’s biggest social media companies.

Roome is one of several British parents suing TikTok over the deaths of their children, which they believe are linked to a dangerous online trend known as the “blackout challenge.” For her, the case is not about compensation. It is about answers.

“It’s time we held them to account,” she said. “What exactly are you showing our children?”

The lawsuit, filed by the Social Media Victims Law Centre in Delaware, names TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance. It alleges that five teenagers – Jools Sweeney, Isaac Kenevan, Archie Battersbee, Noah Gibson and Maia Walsh – died after attempting the same risky online challenge.

Jools was just 14 when he died at his family home in Cheltenham in 2022. A coroner ruled out suicide, but Roome remains convinced her son’s death was linked to content he may have seen online.

Thirteen-year-old Isaac Kenevan from Basildon, Essex, also died in similar circumstances. His family believes he was participating in a choking challenge promoted on social media.

In Hertfordshire, Maia Walsh, also 13, was found dead in her home later that same year. Her parents suspect an online trend played a role, and an inquest is set to examine her TikTok activity.

Archie Battersbee, 12, died in Southend-on-Sea after what a coroner described as a “prank or experiment” went wrong. While officials said there was no evidence he was copying an online challenge, his mother strongly disagrees.

Last year, another family joined the lawsuit. Louise Gibson believes her 11-year-old son, Noah, from Worcestershire, died in similar circumstances.

As the legal proceedings begin, TikTok is seeking to have the case dismissed, arguing that the US court has no jurisdiction and that American free speech laws protect it from liability over user-generated content.

But Roome and the other parents are determined to push forward.

“This hearing is TikTok trying to kick us out,” she explained. “Our lawyers are saying we deserve our day in court. If we get past this stage, they’ll have to release our children’s data – if it hasn’t been deleted.”

For Roome, gaining access to her son’s social media history is crucial. She has been campaigning for a proposed legislation called “Jools’ Law,” which would allow bereaved parents to access their children’s online accounts after death.

“I just want to see what my child was exposed to,” she said. “If social media played a role, then I want accountability.”

She believes platforms are designed to be addictive and that children are being fed harmful content.

“They hook our kids by design,” she said. “These companies need to take responsibility. I don’t feel they have any real morals when it comes to protecting children.”

TikTok has denied the claims. A spokesperson said the company “strictly prohibits content that promotes or encourages dangerous behaviour” and claimed 99% of harmful content is removed before users report it.

Still, critics argue that enforcement is not enough.

Matthew Bergman, the lawyer representing the families, says the issue of online harm cuts across political lines.

“Whether you’re conservative or liberal, we all love our children,” he said. “This is something everyone can agree on.”

He believes real change will come through a mix of stronger laws, legal action and public pressure.

“Judges, lawmakers and the public are starting to understand the serious threat social media poses to young people’s mental and physical safety,” Bergman said.

For Ellen Roome, the fight is deeply personal. Each court appearance is another reminder of the son she lost – and the future she hopes to protect for other families.

“I can’t bring Jools back,” she said softly. “But if this stops another parent from feeling this pain, then it’s worth it.”