Anton Ferdinand, Lianne Sanderson and Marvin Sordell spoke at a Home Affairs Committee inquiry into online abuse; Ferdinand said social media companies need to act now: "Are they waiting for a high-profile footballer to kill themselves, or a member of their family to commit suicide?"
Anton Ferdinand fears it may take a football player's suicide for social media companies to act over online abuse and its effect on mental health.
At a Home Affairs Committee inquiry into online abuse, Ferdinand, alongside two other former players - Lianne Sanderson and Marvin Sordell - spoke about abuse they had received, racism both in stadiums and online, and what needs to change.
Sanderson said she has become desensitised to the abuse she receives after appearances on television and radio, and is frustrated at what she sees as repeat offenders being able to hide behind anonymous accounts online.
"You can take down (abusers') profiles but then they can recreate one without even having to go through anything," she said.
"I'm sure the same people that time and time again abuse me, they just recreate the account and they do it again because you can tell by the way they're writing."
Sordell said the problem of online abuse was getting worse, and that the online platforms allowed people a "free hit" to abuse.
Ferdinand talked about the impact of social media on his own mental health and that of others, and feared it may take a tragedy for the companies involved to act.
"It is built to make you...
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