has detailed the ‘invasive and disgusting’ misogynistic abuse she is sent on Instagram.
The Countdown presenter, 36, who has over half a million followers, has said she receives dozens of unsolicited sexual videos and images in her direct messages.
She revealed that strangers have also tried to call her through the app and have sent mocked up images of her face on porn stars carrying out sex acts.
‘It’s astounding to know that strangers are sending porn’: Rachel Riley details the ‘invasive and disgusting’ messages she receives on Instagram (pictured on Tuesday)
According to the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, Rachel’s ordeal is not uncommon on the platform, that is not doing enough to protect women.
The television presenter who is an ambassador for the CCDH explained: ‘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.
‘On Instagram, anyone can privately send you something that should be illegal. If they did it on the street, they’d be arrested.’
Shocking: The Countdown presenter, 36, has said she receives dozens of unsolicited sexual videos and images in her direct messages (pictured on Instagram)
She continued: ‘For women in the public eye, receiving a constant stream of rude, inappropriate and even abusive messages to your DMs [direct messages] is unfortunately inevitable, and the fact that this happens away from public view makes it all the more intrusive.
‘Instagram and other platforms have a duty to keep the women who use their sites safe, but at the moment there isn’t enough being done to protect them.’
Rachel added that she believes that platforms are not doing enough to stop the inappropriate messages, even when they are reported.
The television presenter explained: ‘It’s astounding to know that strangers are sending porn – it empowers them to know that it’s gone to your inbox’
Rachel added: ‘Instagram and other platforms have a duty to keep the women who use their sites safe, but at the moment there isn’t enough being done to protect them’
She said: ‘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.’
Researchers were given access to the Instagram accounts of Rachel as well as actress Amber Heard and three other high-profile women.
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