Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to meet with bereaved parents whose children died as a result of harmful social media content. The meeting, scheduled for next Tuesday, comes after the families delivered a letter to Downing Street on April 25 requesting urgent talks on children's online safety.
The parents aim to describe the circumstances of their children's deaths and argue for stronger action on social media platforms and algorithmic features they hold responsible. They are urging the Government to uphold its commitment to introduce age-based restrictions, including raising the minimum age for social media access from 13 to 16.
Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son Jools died after copying a challenge on TikTok, is among the campaigners. She said: 'By campaigning on this, we relive the tragedies of what happened to our families every day. We do this not because we want to but because we feel we have to... The Government promised us that they would ban harmful social media features or platforms for under-16s, and we will tell the Prime Minister on Tuesday, face to face, that this is what his Government must now deliver. No ifs, no buts.'
Campaigner Lauren Cowell praised the families' courage, saying: 'Meeting with the Prime Minister is so important for these families, who have shown such extraordinary courage in speaking publicly about the loss of their children... I sincerely hope this meeting gives them the chance to explain directly to the Prime Minister why we cannot wait a moment longer to raise the age limit for harmful social media.'
Other bereaved parents also expressed their relief. Ruth Moss, mother of Sophie Parkinson, said: 'I welcome the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister... to ensure that the voices of bereaved families are heard at the highest level.' Lisa Kenevan, mother of Isaac Kenevan, added: 'It totally baffles me that we are still waiting for action given we have all the evidence... I will be asking the Prime Minister, how many more children must we lose?'
