A mother who has campaigned tirelessly for children's online safety since the death of her teenage son fought back tears during an emotional appearance on BBC Breakfast, after being awarded an MBE.
A Bittersweet Honour for a Grieving Mother
Ellen Roome, from Cheltenham, appeared on the programme on Tuesday, December 30, following the announcement of her inclusion in the New Year Honours list. She received the MBE for services to promoting children's online safety, a mission she embarked on after her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, died three years ago.
Jools was found dead in his bedroom in 2022. A coroner could not confirm if he was in a suicidal state of mind prior to his death. Ellen believes her son, who undertook a 'lot of online challenges', may have fallen victim to a dangerous trend like the 'Blackout' challenge, linked to numerous young people's deaths.
The Fight for 'Jools' Law'
Driven by a need for answers, Ellen's personal tragedy transformed into a public campaign. She is now a leading voice calling for 'Jools' Law', legislation that would allow parents to access their deceased children's social media accounts to understand the circumstances surrounding their death.
Speaking to presenter Nina Warhurst, an emotional Ellen explained her motivation. 'I never started my campaigning for any kind of recognition,' she said. 'It started with wanting answers for my son and then I met all these other bereaved parents... All those parents want answers as well and it became a bigger issue.'
She described learning about the potential harm of social media data for children and said she 'just couldn't stop' campaigning.
The Legislative Battle Ahead
Ellen detailed the ongoing political fight to change the law. Her goal is to make it automatic for a child's online data to be preserved when they die, forming a potential part of any evidence. 'If you don't need it, they don't need it. But, if a parent does, they can hopefully not be in my position now,' she stated.
She revealed that an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, which would enact this data preservation, is due to be discussed in the House of Lords in January. 'I really hope we're successful... and changing the law,' she added, emphasising how crucial this access is for grieving parents trying to comprehend their loss.
Viewers praised Ellen's bravery on social media, with one calling her an 'incredibly deserving' recipient of the honour.
This was not Ellen's first emotionally charged BBC Breakfast interview; earlier in 2024, presenter Naga Munchetty was visibly moved while speaking to her, requiring a moment to compose herself.
The New Year Honours also recognised other figures for their service, including actor Idris Elba, who received a knighthood for his campaigning against knife crime and his work with young people through the Elba Hope Foundation. Ice skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were also made a Dame and a Knight respectively.
