Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
Last week, Jay Slater from Lancashire went missing in Tenerife after a music festival. Spanish mountain rescuers have yet to find any trace of him. In the pre-Internet age that might have been the whole story, but instead wild conspiracy theories have taken root. Over half a million people have joined a Facebook group called ‘Jay Slater Missing’, where members speculate about mafia involvement and psychics claim to have made contact with the teenager. People have alleged, without foundation, that Slater faked his disappearance to pocket cash from a GoFundMe set up to support the family. His Instagram account has been hacked and some internet sleuths have even travelled to Tenerife to investigate the case despite having no connection to Slater. His mum wrote online that she couldn’t believe the British public wasn’t supporting her and said she felt “let down” by all the speculation.
