Social media blackout

The social media blackout begins today at 3pm and will run until 11.59pm on Monday 3rd May. Football clubs, including Charlton, cricket counties, rugby union and rugby league clubs as well as players will be joined by a number of sporting bodies in a four-day boycott of social media platforms from Friday in a move to tackle online abuse and discrimination.

All of Charlton’s social media platforms will fall quiet for 81 hours encompassing the vitally important game at Accrington on Saturday, although the official site and Charlton TV will continue.

Abuse online in all forms has got completely out of control. It is disgusting and has no place in society, and until the large media companies put quality content over advertising revenues, verify accounts, are held accountable and proper action is taken against the keyboard bashing losers, then I don’t really see what difference this makes. The same idiots will still be there on Tuesday.

A bit like taking the knee. Yes, it does constantly keep this vitally important issue on the agenda, and the stance is enduring and obviously acutely worthwhile, but what has it actually changed?

Is kneeling and silence the answer?

If only those in the public eye put as much angst into racism and discrimination than they did about rich old guys wanting to move their playthings into an elitist super league then we may have a chance of moving out of the dark ages.