Social Media, 'We Are All Attracted To It. And There Is Too Much Bullying'

David Beckham
former professional footballer, the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City

Social media sides with no one. Let alone average people, politicians and also celebrities are also targets of cyberbullies and trolling.

David Beckham is a former professional footballer, an icon on the field, and legend by all means. Beckham spoke candidly about the challenges of social media and how his family navigates online bullying.

During a conversation with CNBC host Tania Bryer at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, the 49-year-old, who serves as president and co-owner of the American soccer club Inter Miami CF, reflected on his career spanning from 1992 to 2013, and how social media is changing things, but in a bad way.

David Beckham
David Beckham at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

In one example, me mentioned how he coped with intense scrutiny during pivotal moments, such as being sent off during a match.

"I’m really glad social media wasn’t around back then because it was bad enough then."

"It was bad enough what people were saying to me."

Beckham and his wife, Victoria, share four children: Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper.

He noted the significant pressures his children face from social media, adding that while his youngest, Harper, is not yet on any platform, his sons maintain active accounts.

Speaking about his daughter Haper, being not on any social media platform, he said that "we’re going to keep it like that for a while."

As a father, he bears responsibility, and thinks that it would be wise for him and Victoria to have such stance.

"They all have people send them messages and they all sit down with me and Victoria and say ‘How do we deal with this dad?’ As much as you turn around to them and say ‘Don’t read it,’ we all read it. That’s the problem. We’re all attracted to it. And there’s too much bullying that goes on and it’s not just with children, it’s with adults."

"Unfortunately, we live in a culture where bullying seems to be accepted and it should never be accepted. So I think that social media platforms have a real responsibility to protect people from that."

And also, Beckham, who has over 88 million followers on Instagram, also said that he feels a sense of responsibility over his content and that every post has “real thought” behind it.

"The odd post goes up that is obviously a commercial post but I am over every single post, every single caption because I think it’s important."

"With a social media following like that, there’s a huge responsibility with that, and there’s bad parts to social media and there’s good parts to social media. What we try to do with my following and my social media platform is use it for good."

David Beckham is a globally recognized figure known primarily for his illustrious career as a professional footballer.

In his career as a footballer, Beckham is considered one of the most talented and stylish players of his generation, and had played for top clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, LA Galaxy, and Paris Saint-Germain. He was also a captain of the England national team for six years.

Now, retired, he focuses on philanthropy and business ventures.

David Beckham
David Beckham a first-time attendee at WEF, received on Monday the Crystal Award.

Beckham attended WEF in Davos, Switzerland, on January 21, 2025, and was his first-ever experience.

He was awarded the Crystal Award, which is a prestigious award recognizes individuals who have used their art, business, or other platforms to improve the state of the world.

Beckham shared his thoughts about social media, by making examples of himself and his method of parenting.

As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Beckham used his platform to advocate for the rights and well-being of children worldwide, particularly those affected by poverty, violence, and discrimination.