Arsenal Star: I Quit Social Media To Protect My Mental Health

Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice has spoken candidly about scaling back his social media usage, highlighting the severe mental toll online platforms can take.

Rice and his long-term partner, Lauren Fryer, have both faced toxic online abuse in recent years. The targeted harassment over Fryer’s appearance led her to delete all posts from her Instagram account back in 2024.

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Although Rice maintains an Instagram profile, he permanently deleted his X account three years ago to distance himself from platform toxicity.

“I’ve not been back on the app since,” Rice shared with GQ Magazine after being honored as one of their Men of the Year. “You could be having a great morning. You read one thing, and it just ruins your whole day. I feel like that’s one of my strongest points… the ability to block out noise and not deal with that kind of stuff.”

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The 27-year-old, who shares a four-year-old son, Jude, with Fryer, also expressed concern over how online platforms affect children and overall social development.

“Screen time, for me, isn’t a big thing,” Rice added regarding his phone habits. “I think social media for kids is 100 per cent a problem. I don’t feel like there’s as much personality now as there was a few years ago.”

Austin Akhilomen is a passionate sports content writer with a strong interest in football. He is a fan of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Chelsea, and he enjoys following the teams, players, and competitions that make the sport exciting. Austin writes sports news, match reports, and football content to keep readers informed about the latest developments in the sporting world. His passion for sports also drives his aim to promote the game and connect football fans across the globe. Through his work with Complete Sports, Austin shares engaging sports content with readers and brings his love for football into every story he writes.