CONOR BENN walked away from social media at the peak of his pulling power – to preserve his mental health.
At 23, and in a mandatory position for British and Commonwealth welterweight title fights, he should be loving using Instagram and Facebook to interact with his fans.
But the dark side of this tech phenomenon – the focus of new film The Social Dilemma – has forced the Brit to turn off.
Getting whacked in hardcore sparring sessions at the talent-packed Tony Sims gym are par for the course – but Benn has limits . . .
After another gruelling workout, the son of boxing legend Nigel warned: “Social media is a killer.
“It does have benefits but I now feel the bad outweighs the good, especially for mental health and even more so among young people.
“I am only 23 and I really didn’t realise that young people could even have problems like depression and anxiety.
“But I feel now that social media is really contributing to that.
“I have read stories about young kids harming themselves — or worse — because of the pressures and influences of social media.
“Social media has allowed people to walk right into your front room and smack you in the mouth completely anonymously, without you being able to do anything back.
“I am not programmed to just take it like that — I’ll take a dig but only if I can give one back.
“I have stayed off Instagram for four months. I have my accounts, but they are run for me and I feel so much better for it.
“I just don’t need people blowing smoke up my backside.
“But I also don’t need people abusing me for no reason and bringing negativity into my life.”
Benn’s initial leap from amateur obscurity to Sky Sports prime-time – thanks to his legendary father’s fanbase – put some noses out of joint and a target on his back. But he is baffled about the stick still aimed his way after 16 exciting professional bouts.
And Benn wants to warn trolls everyone has their breaking point.
If the fighting men in the Benn family are emotionally raw enough to cry more than the women, think about how vulnerable other targets are to online bullying.
He explained: “People just see me as a sportsman. Not as a person with feelings and emotions and personal struggles.
“I think boxers and fighters are probably even more emotional than normal people in other jobs and walks of life.
“We are just wired differently and process things differently. My old man is so emotional. His whole career was driven by emotion and I am very much like that myself.
“My dad cried more than my mum and he is a hard man.
“And no matter how many times you say, ‘it doesn’t get to me’, if you really keep prodding and poking and hurting someone, you will get to them.”
Conor was relieved when his 56-year-old father’s comeback was cancelled due to injury at the end of last year.
Despite backing his Australia-based old man 100 per cent to scratch the itch, he dreaded the thought of him getting hurt.
But it sounds like The Dark Destroyer — a two-weight world champion — has taken out his frustrations on Conor’s soft furnishings during lockdown. Conor added: “My dad flew over from Australia to do a tour around England.
“He was due to stay at my house for ten days but then lockdown kicked in and he ended up here for four months!
“I should have charged him for damages, let alone rent.
“You wouldn’t believe the amount of things that he manages to break, from door handles to putting scratches on the floor.
“He caused absolute murder but it was wonderful getting to spend so much time with him — it’s time I really miss now we live so far apart.
“He’s planning to come back soon. He usually only gives me a few days’ notice to get ready. He tells me to get his bed ready and then the next minute he’s at the door.”
