Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock has revealed he is considering quitting social media due to the racist abuse he has been subjected to online.
Willock, who completed a permanent move from Arsenal to Newcastle last week, says more needs to be done to prevent individuals from sending such vile messages.
“Every day I get messages,” Willock told BBC Radio Newcastle. “Messages about my color or different things that are really gross.
“There’s not much you can do – you just have to try and ignore it. I don’t think Instagram, Facebook and Twitter fought hard enough for us to do anything else.
“I feel like the only thing you can do these days is ignore it and try to put it in the back of your head.
“It’s happening on your phone and they have a way to send these filthy things and it hurts right to your phone. It hurts a lot – even to talk about it.”
He added: “If you quit social media you lose that connection with all the wonderful fans that support you every day, you want to see your everyday life and see what you do and have that connection with you on. the platform they wouldn’t have in real life. “
Willock spent the second half of 2020-21 on loan at St James’ Park and scored eight goals in 14 Premier League appearances for Steve Bruce’s side.
The 21-year-old had only scored once in 40 Premier League games for the Gunners before his move to Newcastle, for whom he scored 16 minutes after his home debut against Southampton.
Willock has enjoyed an exceptional end to the campaign with goals in successive appearances against Tottenham, West Ham, Liverpool, Leicester City, Manchester City and Sheffield United to become the youngest player to score in six consecutive Premier League games.
