Southend United and a host of south Essex’s non-league football clubs will be boycotting social media for four days in a bid to tackle discrimination.

Numerous sports’ governing bodies, along with clubs and players, have made the move in response to the ongoing discriminatory abuse received on social media.

The boycott will get underway at 3pm today and end at 11.59pm on Monday.

Among the non-league clubs to have confirmed they will be falling silent on social media are Canvey Island, East Thurrock United, Bowers & Pitsea, Basildon United and Hullbridge Sports.

Sanjay Bhandari, Kick It Out chair, said: “Social media is now sadly a regular vessel for toxic abuse.

“This boycott signifies our collective anger at the damage this causes to the people who play, watch and work in the game.

“By removing ourselves from the platforms, we are making a symbolic gesture to those with power. We need you to act. We need you to create change.

“We need social media companies to make their platforms a hostile environment for trolls rather than for the football family.

“If you watch, work in or love the game, join in.”

Sports such as rugby union, cricket and rugby league will join football in the boycott.

Trevor Birch, chief executive of the EFL, said: “EFL clubs have expressed a clear desire to take a united stand against abhorrent racist, discriminatory and threatening abuse on social media platforms which we fully support alongside the rest of the football family.

“While we recognise the value and role social media plays in our game, online abuse will not be tolerated and we will continue to strongly pursue all avenues open to us to affect change.

“The boycott is only part of the work being undertaken in this area but further highlights the need for social media companies to take additional responsibility for the inappropriate and unwelcome behaviour that appears on their platforms.”