Trying to Figure out WTF Is Going on with the #SaveMarinaJoyce Conspiracy Theories

Has she been kidnapped by ISIS, and how conspiracy theories are mainstream now. Video footage has surfaced of Marina Joyce seeking help on Youtube vlog post.

This is Marina Joyce, a 19-year-old YouTuber from North London.Marina Joyce

Her fans are worried that she might have been captured by ISIS. Wait, what?

In a video posted on July 22, people think that she secretly whispered "Help Me" while showing off some free dresses that she got.

View this video on YouTube

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Marina Joyce Conspiracy Video Screenshot

And so the conspiracy theories started, saying she is being held hostage, or on drugs.

They claim that people behind the camera are forcing her to say things against her will, and you can see someone else holding a script.

People also pointed out bruises.

Things only got worse when she sent out this strange invitation.

Big name YouTubers told his fans not to go.

Twitter went into overdrive.

A fake Buzzzfeed story started circulating saying that she'd been killed (the article was quickly removed).BuzzFeed Post On Marina Joyce

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Police even went to check on her (this seems to be the only legitimate, trustworthy source in the whole thing).

And she tweeted that she's ok.

On Wednesday morning she did a live stream, to let everyone know that she was alive and well. Apparently the 6.30am meet up is actually meant to be on August 3, and is in association with Morning Gloryville — a company that organises early morning, alcohol-free raves, hence the early start time. 

Still, that didn't convince everyone.

What does it all mean?

It goes without saying that we hope she’s ok. The fact the police have checked on her suggests that the whole thing has just been blown out of proportion. The tweets from other high profile YouTube stars like Sam Pepper and Alfie Deyes are genuinely worrying though — it’s likely they could have inside information, and it’s completely believable that a teenage girl thrust into the spotlight at such a young age would struggle with the attention. There’s plenty of child stars who have endured similar fates. If she is indeed suffering from any sort of issues or a drug problem, we do really hope she gets the help she needs. But that’s a very different from an elaborate kidnapping conspiracy.

Really though, the whole thing just shows how much conspiracy theories have become part of our culture. Millennials are so versed in them, dropping Illuminati or “Jet fuel can’t melt steel beams” references like it ain’t no thing. Or they’re Harry Styles Liam Payne relationship truthers. We were all part of it last week, dissecting the web of lies around the Kim K vs Taylor Swift feud.

Conspiracy theories are mainstream now. Recently journalist Jon Ronson wrote about how when he hung out with Alex Jones 17 years ago, he was just a wacky figure of fun — now he’s being given a legitimate platform at Republican National Convention. Back in the day, the JFK shooting truthers, and the Watergate scandal, and people who thought the Moon landings were faked, threatened to blow society open and reveal the lies that they try to keep covered up. But to the new generation, that’s just water off a duck’s back. Of course stuff is being hidden from us. Of course our leaders are lying to us. Of course the media is lying to us. It’s something they’ve known all their lives. And they joke about it. It’s all just a big game to play on social media, going through One Direction interviews with a fine tooth comb, and sharing them with other believers. Which quickly become memes.And best of all, your parent and the old media take them completely, utterly seriously. Which is just part of the fun.

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