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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jamie Roberts

Rachel Riley opens up on the constant and invasive social media abuse she receives

Rachel Riley has revealed the level of "invasive and disgusting" misogynistic abuse she receives on a regular basis on social media.

The Countdown presenter, 36, has over half a million followers on Instagram and has opened up on being sent dozens of unsolicited sexual videos and images to her direct messages.

The maths whizz says she's also had strangers try to call her on the app, while others have sent her fake images of her face on the bodies of porn stars who are carrying out explicit acts.

The presenter is an ambassador for the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, which says not enough is being done to prevent such disgusting acts.

The Mail quotes Rachel as explaining: ""It really makes me not want to go into my DMs at all because it’s revolting. It’s astounding to know that strangers are sending porn - it empowers them to know that it’s gone to your inbox.

Rachel Riley receives huge amounts of abuse on social media (Getty)

"On Instagram, anyone can privately send you something that should be illegal. If they did it on the street, they’d be arrested."

She confessed she feels as thought it's inevitable for women in the public eye to receive such crude private messages and insists the social media platforms have a duty of care to protect women from such acts.

However, she feels a lot more needs to be done and says the companies aren't doing enough, even if the incidents are reported.

She continued: "I just think all social media are not fit to regulate themselves, clearly. They've got the technology to identify that this content is revolting, but these users still have the technology to send unsolicited images to you.

"Teenage girls could receive this stuff while no one else knows because it's behind closed doors. It's invasive and disgusting."

Rachel admitted some content she receives turns her stomach.

She provided researchers with access to her Instagram account, as did Amber Heard and three other high-profile women.

Findings showed that 254 different accounts had sent the women abuse between December 28 and February 28 and while they had all been flagged, a whopping 227 were still active.

It was also found that one in every 15 messages the women received during the two-month trial broke rules set by Instagram for abuse and harassment.

The researchers also discovered that strangers had tried to contact Rachel by video call on five separate occasions.

Imran Ahmed, CCDH chief executive, said: "Instagram has chosen to side with abusers by negligently creating a culture in which abusers expect no consequences – denying women dignity and their ability to use digital spaces without harassment.

"There is an epidemic of misogynist abuse taking place in women's DMs."

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033.

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