Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice has opened up about his decision to cut back on social media use, explaining how online toxicity can take a heavy mental toll. The 27-year-old revealed that he stepped away from X — the platform formerly known as Twitter — about three years ago to safeguard his emotional health.
Rice spoke with GQ Magazine after being named among their Men of the Year. He described how a single negative post could completely derail an otherwise good day.
"You could be having a great morning. You read one thing, and it just ruins your whole day," Rice told GQ. "I feel like that's one of my strongest points... the ability to block out noise and not deal with that kind ofought of that kind of stuff."
The midfielder shared the experience with his long-term partner, Lauren Fryer, who had previously endured targeted harassment that eventually led her to delete her Instagram account. Together they have a four-year-old son named Jude.
Rice also voiced concern over the psychological effects of being constantly immersed in digital spaces, particularly on younger people, noting a noticeable decline in genuine personal expression.
On the economic side of elite sports, Rice acknowledged that the financial figures involved in professional football are "ridiculous." He is reportedly close to securing a new long-term contract extension at Arsenal.
Despite his considerable wealth, the England international stressed the importance of teaching his son grounded work ethics and a practical understanding of money.
"You still want to teach your kid values, not wanting them to be spoiled. You want them to work and to understand the value of life and money," Rice said. "It makes you more comfortable to be able to do things. But I don't wake up and think, 'Oh, I've got loads of money', it's not the end goal."
Following his GQ recognition, Rice will shift his attention to international duty as England prepares to host Croatia in the UEFA Nations League before traveling to face reigning World Cup champions Spain.