A mother who is suing TikTok over the death of her 14-year-old son has described her fight for answers as 'ridiculous', as she and four other British families prepare for a landmark court hearing in the United States.
Ellen Roome, from Cheltenham, believes her son Julian 'Jools' Sweeney died after attempting the 'blackout challenge' – a viral trend that encourages people to choke themselves until they pass out. She has been unable to access his account data, which TikTok says it deleted under data protection laws.
'It's ridiculous that we've got to go across the pond to try and sue for our children's data when we're in England,' Ms Roome told The Mirror. 'The English system isn't set up to be able to sue properly.' She accused TikTok of having 'no morals' and said the platform's refusal to release data suggests it has something to 'hide'.
Jools was found unconscious in his bedroom in April 2022. An inquest recorded a conclusion of suicide, but the coroner said it was unlikely he intended to take his own life. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware last year, also includes the families of Isaac Kenevan, 13, Archie Battersbee, 12, Maia Walsh, 13, and Noah Gibson, 11, who allegedly died in similar circumstances.
A hearing on Friday will consider TikTok's motion to dismiss the case, arguing it should be brought in the UK. If the motion fails, the case could proceed to discovery, where TikTok may be forced to hand over internal records and the children's account data – a process that could take years.
'It's draining. It's emotionally exhausting,' Ms Roome said. 'As a group of parents, we just want answers as to why our children aren't here, and we shouldn't have to fight so hard.' TikTok has said the blackout challenge has been blocked on its platform since 2020.
