PDC confirm action being taken to protect Luke Littler from social media abuse

The PDC has held talks with social media platforms over the issue of pervasive abuse of its players, according to chief executive Matt Porter.

Luke Littler, the world darts number one, is no stranger to flak from crowds at some of the venues where he plays.

Like every other high-profile sporting professional, he is a target for abuse on social media too.

The 19-year-old has even suggested a willingness to walk away from the sport he's taken by storm.

Littler, who won back-to-back World Darts Championships in 2025 and 2026, is just one of the big-name stars who are in line for public attention and all that comes with it.

"There's no doubt social media is a huge contributing factor to not just darts, but any sports person's mentality at the moment," PDC chief exec Porter told talkSPORT.

"Everybody deals with it in a different way. I think it can be used in a real positive. You can engage with your fans, you can use it as a platform to promote yourself and your sponsors.

"But obviously if you're going on there and reading comments from some idiot who's lost a £5 bet and wants all these terrible things to happen to you and your family, then it's not particularly helpful or constructive."

Porter revealed that he has held conversations with 'a platform' with a view to finding ways to ensure sportspeople like Littler are adequately protected.

Littler is part of a generation of sports stars who are both extremely young and have grown up with the twin nature of social media's power.

For people in the public eye, having a direct-ish path to their fans offers huge opportunities, not least of the commercial variety.

Sadly, it also comes with a degree of exposure to abusers and idiots that can't be healthy for anyone.

The world champ is a regular recipient of abuse

Littler is amassing a long collection of examples of targeted abuse, much of which occurs in the real world.

Darts lives and dies on its boisterous crowds and the players whipping them up is all part of the spectacle.

Fans crossing the line is an unfortunate consequence and one that Littler has experienced on numerous occasions in his short career.

In April, 'The Nuke' was booed and jeered before a Premier League outing in Rotterdam.

He was on the end of a similar reaction in Newcastle a couple of months earlier.