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Gareth Fullerton

Glentoran boss Mick McDermott urges players not to get sucked into 'social media experiment'

Mick McDermott has urged players not to get sucked into the "mad experiment" of social media.

The Glentoran manager says he made a "conscious decision" to step away from Twitter over a year ago, a decision McDermott says has afforded him "more head space".

And he believes footballers should adopt the same moderation when it comes to engaging and interacting with followers.

"I made a conscious decision about a year-and-a-half ago not to be involved. So I don't log into anything," McDermott told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast.

"And you find you have a lot more head space when you take it out of the equation, because you do find yourself sitting at night scrolling through your phone.

"My wife might be sitting with her phone and say 'read this', and there will be a couple of funny comments. So I am not blind to some of the stuff that's out there.

"But I made a conscious decision to step away, and I advised my players to do the same. Log out from time to time. You can still read some of the posts.

"Any player who reads comments, to me, is on a different planet. This isn't a conversation. You are sort of the celebrity, so make a post. And if you want to engage with one or two people...

"But some players are getting involved in discussions and debates with fans who you're never going to meet, never going to know.

"I've said it in the past. Social media is a mad social experiment and it's gone crazy. And for any sportsperson to engage a lot is setting themselves up for a big fall.

"Eventually you get to a world where everyone likes you - it's like, like, like, like. Then the first piece of criticism you get it's doom and gloom."

While McDermott is not critical of anyone on social media, he does question how some people use it in their daily lives.

And he believes one or two barbed comments can swell into a wave of negativity for whoever is on the receiving end.

"The criticism can be from four people, but that can then generate 30 comments. And the illusion is 'everyone is against me'," he added.

"So I look at it with bemusement at times, when players are having issues with it. Why are you engaging? If you want to post something, then post it. 'Well done today boys, great result', or, 'poor result today, sorry about that' Then you're gone.

"But you don't need to engage constantly. I am not criticising people who use social media. Business people, keeping in touch with people.

"So I am not critical of people using it, just how they use it."

The Glens boss accepts he has been drawn into confrontation before after being targeted with abuse or negative comments.

But he believes experience has taught him to ignore any outside noise.

"If you react to somebody calling you a name, it says more about you than them," he added.

"I admit I reacted during a Linfield game earlier this season. I did turn to a few fans behind, but the abuse at that point had crossed the line. But I should know better than that.

"So if you read a comment on social media and get offended by it, it says more about you than them. They are throwing the comment out at you.

"If you take it on board, 'here, I am offended'. Exactly, you choose to be offended. They don't offend you, you choose to be offended.

"Forget about it.

"When it comes to abuse on the terraces or social media, I try to let it fly over my head. Why would I choose to be offended?

"I think it comes from situations you have been in, and you handle things better."

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