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The 26-year-old England striker shared that she stays off social media ahead of major tournaments because of "really damaging" online abuse. The Lioness opened up about how she and her fellow teammates are dealing with social media in the lead-up to their defence in Switzerland in July 2025.

midfielder Grace Clinton, 22, says she will try to stay away from social media to avoid a "toxic environment", while Chelsea forward said "the abuse never really stops".

"I think every player might have a different story about that side of the game but it's definitely one that can be really damaging," Russo told reporters at St George's Park on June 17. She added: "I have faced it in the past and I think most players here have. When I was younger I probably got sucked into it more.”

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Russo said that after getting "caught" in the social media trap during her first Euros in 2022, she "" for the 2023 World Cup. "It's personal preference and whatever works for the team. Staying away from it and staying focused as a team is what works for me," she said.

Speaking to Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Chelsea midfielder Keira Walsh said she no longer uses social media and Lucy Bronze added that the online abuse is not just upsetting to players but their families as well.

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England midfielder said she will still use during the tournament, but she will respect the decision of any teammate who decides to keep off social media while in Switzerland.

Having experienced online abuse as young players, both Toone and Russo are actively trying to make younger players on the team more comfortable.

"I know other people turn their phones off. We have that conversation and all know how each other wants to go through the tournament," Toone said. "If I see something on Instagram I'm not going to tell someone or blurt it out to the team because they don't want to see it. I think it's a personal preference."

British tennis player Katie Boulter also recently remarked on the potential effect the increasing frequency and intensity of online abuse can have on younger players.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Boulter shared harrowing details of the, which include a message instructing her to purchase "candles and a coffin for your entire family" with a sinister mention of her "grandmother's grave if she's not dead by tomorrow". Another told her to "go to hell" for causing someone to lose money, and one wishing her to have cancer.

Boulter admitted players are left "vulnerable" not knowing whether stalkers and those who wish them harm are on site at tournaments or what details they have about their location or home address.

The gravity of the threat to players was put on stark display when tennis player was during the Dubai Tennis Championships this past February. The 22-year-old was brought to tears after spotting her stalker in the stands and alerted the umpire to his presence.

Despite being detailed by police and issued a restraining order in Dubai, security staff at the All England Club discovered that the unnamed man was on the waiting list for the 2025 Wimbledon public ticket ballot. He was subsequently blocked from buying tickets.

Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said that security measures would be tight at Wimbledon this year. “We’re liaising with the tours, with the Met police, with other security agencies right through the year to think about the types of risks we need to look at and adjusting what we put in place,” she said.