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A mother who lost her son and has since been advocating for social media reform has welcomed the government’s proposed ban on social media use by children under 16, calling it “fantastic.” Ellen Roome, whose son Jools Sweeney passed away in 2022, expressed cautious optimism about the new regulations. While acknowledging that the ban may not be flawless, she emphasized its potential to provide protection to some vulnerable children.
Roome shared her relief that the authorities are finally taking action after a long wait. “I actually think it’s really good news. We’ve been waiting for so long, they’re actually stepping up and doing something and making some changes.” However, she also highlighted that the effectiveness of the ban will depend heavily on the specifics of how it is implemented. “The devil’s gonna be in the detail for how this actually happens,” she noted.
The campaigner stressed the need for ongoing oversight, especially as new social media platforms emerge. She warned against limiting the ban to just a handful of existing services, urging for rules that address particular features across all platforms, including those yet to be developed. “We need to be making sure we’re not just naming 10 platforms, that we are looking at specific features,” Roome explained. “What happens if some other company pops up? We need to make sure we can control new, developing products that come out so we’re trying to stay one step ahead.”
In addition to regulation, Roome pointed out the importance of educating young people about the risks associated with social media, both at school and at home. She likened this to offline safety education, emphasizing the need for children to understand why these protections are necessary. “We’ve got to educate on why this is happening, and the harm that is there,” she said. “Just as we educate children in an offline world, it’s no different, we just need to teach them about online and why this is happening and it’s actually doing it to protect them.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall described the social media ban as a “bold” initiative aimed at fostering a safer and healthier online experience for children. She criticized tech companies for repeatedly failing to make children’s safety a priority, which has prompted the government to intervene. “Tech companies have had countless opportunities to keep children safe, yet they have failed to act. That is why we are taking power away from the tech giants and putting it back in parents’ hands,” she stated. Kendall also underscored her commitment to ensuring every child receives the best possible start in life, highlighting that the new regulations are designed to achieve this goal.
The government announcement has so far elicited responses mainly from YouTube and Snapchat. A spokesman from Snapchat expressed concern that banning its platform for children under 16 might inadvertently drive young users to less secure sites. YouTube likewise emphasized its role as an important resource for young people, parents, and educators. A YouTube representative cautioned that “blanket bans push kids out of such curated, supervised, beneficial experiences and towards anonymous, less safe services.”
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