Luke Littler Changes Instagram Settings After Online Abuse

Luke Littler, the 19-year-old darts sensation, has modified his Instagram privacy settings to protect himself from online trolls after facing abuse on social media following his bust-up with Gian van Veen. GB News reported that Littler activated a feature to disable commenting on posts some time ago, helping him avoid negativity that flooded in after the incident.

This change allows him to manage responses more effectively, particularly when sharing content that draws criticism.

Littler manages his own social media presence and regularly shares darts and football-related content with his followers on Instagram. That figure has now soared to 2.1 million as the two-time world champion's profile has reached global proportions. Instagram's option to disable commenting has proven useful for him, especially with pro-Manchester United posts that attract rival fans' ire.

The adjustments came amid fallout from an on-stage altercation with Dutch opponent Gian van Veen at the Premier League event in Manchester on April 2. Littler explained his approach in a statement: 'I am always on social media. I see everything. But even before Manchester, you can just go on your settings and say you put someone in your story, people can reply to your story, and it's in your requests (section).

That's been turned off for ages and ages. So people are messaging me, and I'm not seeing anything. I'm just seeing when I'm scrolling. ' This reflects his strategy to limit exposure to direct messages while staying engaged online. In recent competitions, Littler faced crowd hostility, including a chorus of boos during his appearance at Liverpool.

Despite the jeers, he delivered strong performances, overcoming Luke Humphries 6-2 in the last eight before narrowly battling past Michael van Gerwen. He then ruthlessly dispatched Jonny Clayton 6-1 in the final, showcasing his resilience under pressure.

After his Liverpool victory, Littler commented on the atmosphere: 'Rotterdam was way louder than this tonight. There was a little bit [of booing] but this week was nothing compared to last week. I've just got to forget about it. ' The win helped him in the standings, where Jonny Clayton sits three points ahead of Littler on 32 points in the current table.

Littler's rise since the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship has elevated his global profile, turning him into a target for online scrutiny. He continues to navigate the challenges of fame, balancing his social media activity with competitive demands in events like the Premier League.