Declan Rice has opened up about reducing his use of social media - citing the mental toll it can have.

The Arsenal and England midfielder has been subjected to online abuse in the past - with his long-term partner Lauren Fryer having also been targeted.

Online abuse about her appearance had led to Fryer wiping all posts from her Instagram page back in 2024.

While Rice still has an Instagram account, he quit X three years ago as a result of the negativity that app can bring.

'I've not been back on the app since,' he told GQ Magazine - after being named among their Men of the Year. 'You could be having a great morning. You read one thing, and it just ruins your whole day.

'I feel like that's one of my strongest points... the ability to block out noise and not deal with that kind of stuff.'

Rice, who has a four-year-old son called Jude with Fryer, is worried about the impact of social media on the younger generations.

'Screen time, for me, isn't a big thing,' he says of his own personal phone usage. 'I think social media for kids is 100 per cent a problem. I don't feel like there's as much personality now as there was a few years ago.'

As detailed by Daily Mail Sport last month, the 27-year-old is closing in on a new long-term deal at Arsenal believed to be worth around £350,000 per week.

The contract will put him on a level footing with Bukayo Saka at the top of the club's salary list.

And speaking about money in football as a whole, Rice told GQ Magazine that the finances within the sport are 'ridiculous' and despite his wealth he still wants to set a good example to his son Jude.

'The money that's in football as a whole is just ridiculous,' he continued. 'It's important to understand what things cost, even if you don't have to worry about paying for them. 

'You still want to teach your kid values, not wanting them to be spoiled. You want them to work and to understand the value of life and money. 

'It makes you more comfortable to be able to do things. But I don't wake up and think, "Oh, I've got loads of money", it's not the end goal.' 

Rice's focus will now be on his country with England hosting Croatia on Thursday night in the UEFA Nations League before travelling to World Cup champions Spain on Sunday.

Going into the November international break, the midfielder is enjoying a fine season with Arsenal who sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League with 27 points from their opening 10 matches.

READ: Martin Odegaard sends Arsenal six clear at the top: The stylists and aesthetes will moan - but Mikel Arteta can rest easy over the international break, writes RIATH AL-SAMARRAI