A grieving mother broke down in tears during a live television interview as she continues her quest for answers surrounding the tragic death of her 14-year-old son, which she believes is linked to an online challenge.
A Mother's Unanswered Questions
Ellen Roome appeared on BBC Breakfast on Friday, 16 January 2026, hosted by Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt. She spoke emotionally about the loss of her son, Jools Sweeney, who died in 2022 after she found him unconscious at home. A coroner concluded he had taken his own life but likely without intent.
Ellen holds a firm belief that Jools died after a dangerous online challenge, circulating on social media platforms in 2022, went wrong. However, a critical piece of the puzzle remains missing: she has never been granted access to his social media data to understand what he viewed in his final moments.
The Legal Battle Against TikTok
Driven by a need for accountability, Ellen has joined a group of other bereaved British parents in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against TikTok in the United States. The legal action alleges that Jools and four other children died after being exposed to harmful content that was amplified by the platform's algorithms.
Ellen is now preparing for the next stage of this transatlantic fight. She explained the upcoming "motion to dismiss hearing," where TikTok's lawyers will attempt to have the case thrown out. "Our lawyers are obviously then going to say, we have [grounds], and these are the reasons why," she stated.
Should the case proceed, it will move to the discovery phase. "TikTok will have to release our children's data," Ellen said, emphasising a point of deep frustration for all the families involved. "All of us have not been able to see what our children looked at."
Seeking Accountability and Closure
Reflecting on her charismatic son, Ellen told viewers, "Jools was the most caring, loving, bright child. He just had the most amazing, kind heart. And it just doesn't make sense to me." Her confusion is compounded by final ring doorbell footage showing Jools laughing as he said goodbye to a friend just an hour and a half before his death.
"What on earth happened in that last hour and a half? That's what I want to piece together," she pleaded. While acknowledging she cannot bring Jools back, Ellen is determined to force change. "If we can start proving accountability... then we can start holding those companies accountable and saying this is not acceptable."
She carries Jools's mobile phone with her, describing the act as holding an "echo" of her son. Ellen also questioned why social media companies have not been more transparent, stating, "I do think if social media companies had nothing to hide, why have they not said to us, here's the data, I hope you get some answers."
TikTok's Response
The BBC Breakfast report included a statement from TikTok, which expressed its deepest sympathies to the families. The company asserted it "strictly prohibits content that promotes or encourages dangerous behaviour" and removes 99% of such content before it is reported.
Regarding the specific data request, a spokesperson said, "TikTok no longer has watch or search history for Jools because the law requires it to delete people's personal data unless it is needed for running a business." The company also stated it complies with the UK's strict data protection laws.
Ellen Roome's appearance has highlighted the ongoing tension between parental grief, the quest for digital evidence, and the policies of global tech giants, setting the stage for a pivotal legal confrontation in the United States.
