PDC chief executive Matt Porter has revealed that discussions have been held with social media platforms as darts authorities look to better protect players from online abuse.
The move follows concerns raised by world champion Luke Littler, who recently admitted he had considered stepping away from the sport after enduring months of criticism and hostility from fans both inside arenas and on social media.
Throughout this year’s Premier League campaign, Littler was subjected to boos and heckling at several venues despite continuing to produce outstanding performances. Although the 19-year-old ultimately lifted the title last Thursday, he later revealed there were moments when the pressure became overwhelming.
Speaking candidly about his struggles, Littler admitted he had told his partner Faith: “I can’t do it anymore.”
Away from the oche, the teenager has also faced a barrage of abuse online, with some messages crossing the line from criticism into personal attacks.
Porter says the PDC is now actively investigating ways to help players avoid exposure to the most harmful content.
Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “There’s no doubt social media is a huge contributing factor to not just darts, but any sportsperson’s mentality at the moment.
“Everybody deals with it in a different way.
“I think it can be used in a really positive way. You can engage with your fans, you can use it as a platform to promote yourself and your sponsors.
“But obviously, if you’re going on there and reading comments from some idiot who’s lost a £5 bet and wants all these terrible things to happen to you and your family, then it’s not particularly helpful or constructive.
“We’ve had some conversations with a platform. There are various filtering tools available for people with high-profile accounts to help them through those periods and make sure they don’t see things that can have a negative impact on their mental state.
“I think that’s increasingly important, but it’s obviously sad that we’re in a position where we have to look at that sort of thing.”
Littler is not the only player to have spoken out about the issue.
Earlier this year, Stephen Bunting became emotional during a World Championship press conference as he discussed the online abuse directed at him.
Meanwhile, Nathan Aspinall revealed in 2025 that he had stepped away from social media altogether after being inundated with abusive messages following his selection for the Premier League.
The growing concern has prompted the PDC to take a more proactive approach, with player welfare and online safety becoming increasingly important topics within the sport.
Comments are closed.