This conversation is with Ellen Roome, mother of Jools. Ellen is one of the four families who have sued TikTok for the deaths of their children; Jools (forever 14), Isaac (forever 13), Maia (forever 13) and Archie (forever 12).

These parents bring this action for wrongful death and survivorship against TikTok LLC, TikTok Inc., and ByteDance Inc. for the 2022 deaths of their children resulting from the use of TikTok.

TikTok created harmful dependencies in each child as a matter of design, then flooded them with a seemingly endless stream of harms. These were not harms the children searched for or wanted to see when their use of TikTok began. Instead, ByteDance targeted them via its unauthorized taking of personal data.

Parents should limit their children's access to addictive, harmful platforms like TikTok and have open conversations with their children in order to educate and protect them.