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Parents 'should have access to kids' social media'

BBC General view, Ellen Roome Max Wilkinson Lola Mcevoy outside parliament for jools law debate. They are wearing winter coats and looking at the camera with the Houses of Parliament in the backgroundBBC
MPs discussed "Jools Law" in parliament on Monday

Parents should be given the right, "morally and humanely", to access their children's social media accounts after their deaths, MPs have heard.

It comes after Ellen Roome, from Cheltenham, contacted social media companies about why her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died in April 2022, believing it could have been an online challenge gone wrong.

MPs gathered at Westminster on Monday to discuss "Jools' Law".

Max Wilkinson, Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham, said social media companies had "placed process ahead of compassion in Jools' case".

PA Media Undated family handout photo of Ellen Roome with her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney, who was discovered unconscious in his bedroom at home in April 2022. They are both smiling at the camera and she has one arm wrapped around his shoulderPA Media
Ellen Roome's son 14-year-old son Jools, died in April 2022

The issue was debated after a petition calling for the new law, which would give parents access to their children's accounts after their deaths, was submitted to Parliament after attracting more than 126,000 signatures.

Labour MP for Darlington Lola McEvoy paid tribute to Ms Roome's work and read a statement from the campaigner.

She said: "In my case, and that of other parents, when the child has died who are we protecting? The predators on these platforms? Social media companies?

"Surely I should have the right to look for answers to the cause of death? Jools' young friends struggle to understand why he is no longer here.

"We deserve possible answers or at least to try for them."

Family photograph Jools sat in a river or stream of water smiling at the camera. He has brown hair which is swept across his foreheadFamily photograph
Mr Wilkinson said social media companies had put Ms Roome through a "cruel and inhumane process" while investigating her son's death

Mr Wilkinson said social media companies had put Ms Roome through a "cruel and inhumane process in seeking answers about her son's death".

"Sadly in recent weeks and months we have seen social media companies make increasingly vociferous claims that the protection of free speech and freedom of expression online must come above all else," he said.

"The examples of Elon Musk's bizarre approach to X and Meta's decision to ditch moderation in favour of community notes are instructive about what is happening and what could happen next."

During the debate, Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty also argued safeguarding measures needed to be considered to protect vulnerable children with parents who may not have their best interest at heart.

'Building evidence base'

Technology minister Feryal Clark said the Government was committed to implementing the Online Safety Act and was "focused on building the evidence base to inform any future action".

"Working with Ellen, the Bereaved Families for Online Safety group, other parents, and civil society organisations, we will build a better online world for our children," he said.

After the debate Ms Roome told the BBC she was very "pleased" with the outcome.

"Everybody seemed to support it. Hopefully we can meet up with the minister to discuss going forward," she said.

"Everybody was really positive and everybody wants this to happen I think."

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