Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died in what she believes was a TikTok challenge gone wrong, has called on the government to ban social media for under-16s. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she accused Downing Street of being too slow and 'kicking it down the road'.
Roome is among families meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday as a consultation on a possible social media ban closes. She said: 'Come on, get a grip, let's actually stand up, do something, make a decision. I don't care if they take it away for adults and children until it's safe, just take it away, fix it, and then we can give it back.'
Labour party chair Anna Turley said the government would 'seize this moment' but defended the consultation period. Former health secretary Wes Streeting, who compared social media to tobacco, blamed tech companies for making products addictive and harming children's sleep, concentration, and mental health.
Streeting cited evidence from Australia, which banned social media for under-16s, saying it prevents harm even if some circumvent the ban. The UK consultation considers options including age limits on features like livestreaming and infinite scrolling, curbing personalised algorithms, and mandatory screen curfews.
