Three steps to use against online trolls on social media from a Doncaster influencer

Lindsay McGlone, aged 22, from Balby is an Instagram influencer and activist.

She said: “My coping mechanism has three steps and it depends on the mood I’m in to which one that I use.

“Sometimes I use sarcasm against negative comments, they usually don’t like that because it’s clever.

“The second option is the block and roll as it’s known in the industry.

“If I’m having a bad day or I don’t feel like I can defend myself then I share the negativity with my online community and they will step in and support me.”

Lindsay has over 13,000 followers on her Instagram where she passionately shares her activism around the topic of self-love and fat-shaming.

“I think social media has really helped women find their place and to have a voice where they may have not done before,” Lindsay continued.

“It’s easier to fight back negative comments from men when you’re behind a screen - so more women are standing up for themselves.

“I don’t hide anything on my Instagram, I share the good and bad days,” she said.

“I don’t hide when posts when I'm feeling down.

“My followers have really got me through a lot and their support allows me to live this lifestyle.”

Despite the positivity that Lindsay feels towards her social media she still feels there is an inequality between men and women in the online space.

She said: “I get told all the time that I can’t speak properly - when I say ‘you reyt’ people assume that I'm not clever.

“But in my opinion, a man can get away with it more and women have to put on more of a pretense when they speak.

“I also talk about sexuality on my platform which people may think is gross because I’m a woman.

“But no-one bats an eyelid when men talk about that subject.”

One of Lindsay’s female heroes is Gina Martin who was fundamental in getting upskirting to be declared illegal.