Andy Murray has vowed to keep his children off social media until they are older to shield them from its potentially “damaging” effects.
Murray’s comments come on the heels of Katie Boulter’s revelation about receiving vile social media abuse, including death threats, making him the latest high-profile figure in the sport to weigh in on the issue.
The former world number one is determined to protect his four children, aged between nine and four, from the harsh realities of social media for as long as possible.
In an interview with the BBC, the 38 year old said: “I think it’s positive any time anyone can speak out about it. It’s great that (Katie) talked about it.
“Athletes across all sports have been discussing this for a long time, but it hasn’t really changed. Hopefully something can get done soon.”
When asked about potential solutions to curb athlete abuse, Murray admitted: “If I’m being honest I don’t know.”
He and his wife are making a conscious effort to keep their children off social media until they are much older, citing concerns about its impact.
Murray acknowledged the complexity of the issue, saying: “I don’t know whose responsibility it is, I don’t know if the government needs to do more to tackle it, or (X owner) Elon Musk and people like that can do more to stop these messages getting through to individuals.”
He emphasized that the issue extends beyond athletes, but acknowledged the delicate balance between regulation and free speech, describing it as a “I don’t mean just athletes, but then you get into the whole debate around free speech and it’s a difficult one.”
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