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The Lionesses have made the deliberate decision to stay off social media during the European Championships due to how toxic it gets during major tournaments.
England forward Alessia Russo has revealed she prefers to avoid social media during major tournaments due to the potential for harmful online abuse.
The 26-year-old Arsenal star spoke alongside her Lionesses teammates as they prepare to defend their European Championship title in Switzerland next month.
Their comments follow recent discussions about online abuse in sport, including British women's tennis number one Katie Boulter's experience with online threats.
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Lionesses Break Silence on Social Media Abuse
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"Social media can be really damaging. I've faced it in the past, and I think most players here have. When I was younger, I probably got sucked into it more," Alessia Russo said as per BBC Sport.
"I read it and listened to it more than I should have. The only opinions that matter are my teammates', my coaches', and my family's."
She added that during his first Euros, she used social media and would scroll through it, sometimes getting caught in a trap.
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However, ahead of the World Cup, she decided to completely stay off social media and had others manage her Instagram so she could focus solely on the tournament.
It ultimately comes down to personal preference and what benefits the team, but for him, staying away from social media and focusing as a team works best.
Several other Lionesses shared similar sentiments. Manchester United midfielder Grace Clinton, 22, plans to avoid social media to steer clear of a 'toxic environment.'
Chelsea forward Lauren James noted that 'the abuse never really stops,' recounting how she receives abuse even when opponents lose against her character in the EA Sports FC video game.
Chelsea midfielder Kiera Walsh stated she no longer uses social media, while teammate Lucy Bronze highlighted the impact on families.
"People write horrible things, and obviously our families read it as well, and it can be upsetting. Social media is amazing in one way and absolutely awful in another. I think most of us have been off at some point," Lucy Bronze revealed.
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Manchester United's Ella Toone explained that while she will continue using Instagram during the tournament, she respects teammates' decisions to disconnect.
"We have that conversation and all know how each other wants to go through the tournament. If I see something on Instagram, I'm not going to tell someone or blurt it out to the team because they don't want to see it. I think it's a personal preference," she added.
Both Toone and Russo emphasised their commitment to supporting younger players in the squad who might be experiencing online abuse for the first time.
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