Steven Gerrard slams social media companies after Rangers players and staff announce boycott
Steven Gerrard has launched a scathing attack on social media companies after Rangers took a stand against online abuse.
The club announce [via their website] that players and management would be taking part in a week-long boycott of all social media channels as of yesterday [19:00, Wednesday April8].
This has come in the wake of heightened abuse on mediums such as Instagram and Facebook, highlighted by Glen Kamara in an interview with ITV where he showed the scale of the vitriolic comments spewed towards him.
Steven Gerrard has come out in defence of his players and in a press conference on Friday [relayed by Rangers Twitter account] took aim at these social media companies.
He said: “It’s been spoken about for long enough now from Instagram, Facebook and too many people are getting abuse on a daily basis. It makes you frustrated and angry that these social media platforms are ignoring it and letting it go on.”
Leading by example
We’re proud to support a club that has taken on the task of trailblazer in the fight against racism.
Kamara made allegations of racism against Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela in our Europa League second-leg tie at Ibrox on March 18, and since then online abuse has reached new levels with the Gers midfielder, alongside others like Kemar Roofe, the target of disgusting racist taunts.
It’s sad that players and management have been forced to take the strong step of boycotting online media to try and combat this deadly social disease but something has to be done and the Light Blues have become one of the main proponents for change.
Clubs in England, such as Swansea City and Birmingham City, have also taken big steps to try and sort the issue by refusing to post on their official channels for a week.
It remains to be seen how much effect this will have but it will not be for the want of trying on our part.
In other Rangers news, Slavia GK claims Kemar Roofe has caused him to take drastic action.