The mother of Jay Slater, the teenager who died in Tenerife, is spearheading a campaign for new legislation to protect families from online abuse in the wake of personal tragedies.
A Mother's Campaign for Change
Debbie Duncan is calling for the introduction of 'Jay's Law' following the death of her son, Jay Slater, in June 2024. Jay went missing while on the island, and his disappearance sparked a wave of conspiracy theories and targeted online harassment against his grieving family.
An inquest later provided closure, concluding that the teenager's death was a tragic accident. The coroner ruled that Jay died from head injuries after he lost his footing and fell into a ravine.
The Fight Against 'Tragedy Trolling'
Despite the official findings, the family continued to face vicious online trolling. This painful experience has driven Ms Duncan to take action. She has now launched an official Parliamentary petition to create 'Jay's Law'.
The campaign has gained political traction, receiving the support of her local Labour MP, Sarah Smith. The proposed law aims to better regulate social media companies and hold them accountable for the abuse and misinformation spread on their platforms.
The issue of 'tragedy trolling' – where individuals target grieving families online – was recently highlighted in a Channel 4 documentary, bringing wider public attention to the problem Ms Duncan is fighting.
A Legacy for Jay
Debbie Duncan's campaign seeks to create a lasting legacy for her son. The core mission of 'Jay's Law' is to prevent other families from enduring the same secondary trauma of online harassment while they mourn the loss of a loved one.
By pushing for stricter social media regulation, the family hopes to force tech giants to take more responsibility for the content on their sites and create a safer online environment for everyone, especially those at their most vulnerable.
