Rio Ferdinand has revealed that TikTok and Snapchat are banned in his household, citing abuse directed at Jadon Sancho as a key factor in his decision.
The former Manchester United favourite has admitted that he has banned his children from using the popular social media app, citing online abuse aimed at fellow footballing stars as the driving force behind his decision.
Speaking at an event to promote WeAre8 - a new social media app aimed to eliminate hateful comments and messages - Ferdinand explained why he refuses to allow his 11-year-old daughter on TikTok:
"My 11-year-old daughter, all of her friends in her class are on TikTok and Snapchat, and I said: "No, you're not doing it.
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"I've done it, and I know what's being pushed and it's not right. I walked past her bedroom when I first let her have it, and some of the songs she was singing, I was thinking, "Wow, I don't even say the words sometimes on those songs.""
Ferdinand went on further to discuss the impact of his decision, stating that there had been some arguments at the dinner table as a result of the TikTok ban, but he did maintain that the decision was the right on for his family.
Ferdinand admitted that social media reaction following England's Euro 2020 final defeat had opened his eyes to the abuse that footballers suffer on social media in the present day.
"As a Premier League footballer, you experience a lot of pain (from online abuse.
"I was in Manchester the other day at my old club, and I was with Marcus [Rashford] and Jadon Sancho, Two of the guys [who missed penalties], explaining WeAre8 to them in a bit more detail.
"Jadon said "If I had that... s*it. I would have had a good summer, I would have able to go and get away from it.
"'Whereas with all the other platforms that they're on, they're addicted to it, and they're receiving that negative energy constantly - so he had no way out, and he had no respite from it.
"'Then about a year down the line, he actually had time off from football because of the issues.
"So it shows you a player, who cost £85million and who everyone believes is Mr. Macho, is a guy who is affected by social media. So God help the people that don't have the resources somebody like that has, who we assume is hugely resilient."
Ferdinand ended his conversation by expressing his desire to be known for being anything other than a footballer, citing that he wants people to discuss the impact of WeAre8 rather than his achievements on the football pitch.
Topics: Jadon Sancho, Rio Ferdinand, Football
Tom Young