The tragic disappearance and subsequent death of 19-year-old Jay Slater from Lancashire, who went missing in Tenerife in June 2024, has brought to light the devastating impact of online misinformation on grieving families. Jay's mother, Debbie Duncan, has spoken out emotionally on BBC Breakfast about the relentless online abuse, conspiracy theories, and false accusations her family endured during and after the extensive search for her son.

Jay's disappearance prompted a massive manhunt on the island, drawing significant media attention. Tragically, his body was found almost a month later, on July 15, in a remote area near the village of Masca. A coroner's inquest later confirmed that Jay died by accident after falling down a ravine. Despite these established facts, Debbie revealed that the family was bombarded with unverified information, including misleading video and CCTV footage, making it impossible to discern