A 14-year-old Gloucestershire schoolboy's tragic fate has sparked a landmark High Court ruling that could have far-reaching implications for the way social media evidence is handled in future investigations. Jools Sweeney's death in April 2022 remains shrouded in controversy, with his mother Ellen Roome convinced that online activity, specifically the 'blackout challenge' on TikTok, played a significant role.
Jools died after taking part in the 'blackout challenge', which involves recording oneself while struggling to breathe or losing consciousness. His parents have long argued that social media platforms such as TikTok must be held accountable for their potential impact on vulnerable teenagers. This assertion is now being given greater weight, thanks to the High Court's decision to order a fresh inquest.
The original inquest into Jools' death lasted just 23 minutes and failed to consider social media evidence. However, Lord Justice Warby and Mrs Justice Heather Williams have ruled that this omission was significant enough to warrant a new investigation. The judges highlighted several key areas where the initial inquiry fell short, including the absence of oral evidence and access to digital information.
Ms Roome's tireless efforts to uncover the truth behind her son's death have led to several important developments. A private forensic analysis of Jools' phone uncovered evidence suggesting his heavy use of TikTok, which has since been described as "highly probative" by Ms Roome's barrister, Harry Lambert. While TikTok itself expressed support for the new inquest, stating that they could "see the force" behind it.
Jools' case has also led to significant changes in legislation. As part of the Crime and Policing Act, 'Jools' Law' came into effect on 29 April 2026, requiring tech companies to automatically preserve a child's online data within five days of their death. Ms Roome is now pursuing a separate lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, in Delaware, United States, alongside four other bereaved British parents.