A bereaved mother, who has tirelessly campaigned for greater regulation of social media platforms following her son's death, has expressed strong support for the government's proposed ban for under-16s. Ellen Roome, whose son Jools Sweeney is believed to have died in an online challenge in 2022, described the announcement as 'fantastic', despite acknowledging that the 'devil's going to be in the detail' regarding its implementation.
Mrs Roome highlighted the long wait for concrete action from the government on this issue, stating that she believes they are now 'stepping up and doing something'. While accepting that the ban may not be 'perfect' initially, she stressed that 'if we're protecting some kids, that's better than none and hopefully we can improve things as we go along'. Her comments underscore the urgent need felt by many parents and campaigners for stronger safeguards for children online.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall affirmed the government's commitment, describing the ban as a 'bold' step towards 'creating a safer, healthier life online' for children. Ms Kendall criticised tech companies for their perceived inaction, stating, 'Tech companies have had countless opportunities to keep children safe, yet they have failed to act.' She emphasised that the new regulations aim to 'take power away from the tech giants and put it back in parents' hands', aligning with the government's broader objective of giving every child 'the best possible start in life'.
Beyond the immediate ban, Mrs Roome also called for assurances that new platforms and features will be rigorously monitored in the future. She articulated a concern that the regulations should not merely name existing platforms but focus on 'specific features' and ensure the ability to 'control new, developing products that come out so we're trying to stay one step ahead'. Furthermore, she advocated for a comprehensive re-education of the next generation about social media, both in schools and by parents, to highlight the potential harms and foster safer online habits.
However, the proposed ban has drawn a mixed response from the tech industry. Only YouTube and Snapchat have publicly commented so far. A spokesperson for Snapchat suggested that a blanket ban on its platform could inadvertently 'push young people onto less safe platforms', while YouTube described itself as a 'vital resource' for young people, educators, and parents. YouTube further argued that 'blanket bans push kids out of such curated, supervised, beneficial experiences and towards anonymous, less safe services', indicating potential challenges in achieving widespread industry buy-in and compliance.
Source: UKPulse Media interviews