A bereaved mother who has “absolutely no idea” why her son took his own life aged 14 is fighting social media companies to hand over his search history.

Jools Sweeney was found dead in April 2022. A coroner was unable to rule his death was a suicide as they were unable to prove he was in a “suicidal mood”, his mother Ellen Roome tells Sky News.

Ms Roome says he showed no signs of depression and police have ruled out any third-party involvement.

As a result, she says she has been left with “absolutely no idea why he isn’t here anymore”.

Having read about other teenagers taking their lives after viewing harmful content online, Ms Roome asked various social media companies for her son’s browsing history to shed light on why he died.

But she says: “Since my son’s death, I have not been able to access information to see what my son was looking at that could have contributed to him taking his own life.

“Parents should have the right to full access to their child’s social media accounts either whilst they are still alive (to protect them) or if they die as in my case.”

Read more from Sky News
Why big money might swing digital election
Concerns over Microsoft automatic screenshot feature
Scarlett Johansson shocked at AI voice recreation

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

She launched a petition to have the issue debated in parliament. But in light of the general election on 4 July, all parliamentary petitions will be automatically closed on 30 May.

This leaves her with just days to reach her 100,000-signature target.

She tells Sky News: “It’s very ambitious but I need 85,000 signatures to hit my target which might give me access to Jools’s information to find out why he died.”

Asked about the impact of her son’s unexpected death, she adds: “It’s impossibly hard, it’s horrific, it consumes me.

“I have to try the only thing we haven’t tried and that is social media.

“It might not be that. But I don’t see why social media companies wouldn’t let me see if they’ve got nothing to hide.”

Quarter of children addicted to devices

A recent House of Commons Education Committee report suggested there has been a 52% increase in children’s screen time between 2020 and 2022, with a quarter said to be using their devices in an addictive manner.

MPs on the committee said that while the Online Safety Act will play a role in keeping children safe from online harms, full protection will not come until the Act is fully implemented in 2026.

They suggest the next government should ban all under-16s from having phones.

Ms Roome said: “I think there’s a bigger issue than banning outright under-16s.

“Because they still have access to other devices. That is a bigger problem. We need to control what’s on those devices. It’s shocking about what a child can see these days.”

Online safety campaigner Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly took her own life after viewing harmful material, said such a ban would “cause more harm than good” and would “punish children for the failures of tech companies to protect them”.

“The quickest and most effective route to protect children’s online safety and wellbeing is to strengthen the Online Safety Act in the next parliament and we call on all parties to commit to this in their manifestos,” he said.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Ms Roome adds: “Companies need to step up and stop waiting for the bill to make some changes.”

She describes her son as “entirely beautiful” and a “really polite young man”.

“I’m appealing to anybody out there to kindly share my petition. I want this debated in parliament. Parents need the right to be able to protect their children.”

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email [email protected] in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

Related posts:

‘A true hero’: Lorry driver praised for parking under motorway bridge to stop man jumping off it Police alerted to ‘suspicious activity’ on Taliban supporter’s farm near nuclear navy base ‘Complete disregard for human life’: Plan to end restrictions criticised by doctor with long COVID ‘We’re not in America, we’re in England’: Court hears of man’s exchange with MP ‘killer’ who wanted to be shot by police Boy, 14, accused of murdering five-year-old sang about ‘punching kids in the head’, court told Two Met officers sacked over ‘discriminatory’ messages including racist joke about Meghan Post Malone helps Glasgow singer buy a house Staff member sacked after gold jewellery and gems from British Museum ‘missing, stolen or damaged’ Cardiff crash survivor jailed for dangerous driving on night of collision Critically ill baby’s parents begin High Court court battle over ‘life-sustaining’ treatment King Charles receives warm royal welcome from Zara Tindall at Windsor event Boy, 15, found guilty of murdering teenager Alfie Lewis