[paul cotter (OP)]

I am not on social media, never have been and never will be. I am stunned by the amount of hatred spewed out by the so called "keyboard warriors". Even news events that are entirely noncontroversial seem to trigger the outpouring of venom. Recently a young man lost his way in Tenerife and died tragically and this story apparently led to some foul on-line correspondence. Personally I think social media is destroying the cohesiveness of society.

[alancalverd]

I can understand why inadequate people llike the previous president of the USA write this stuff - it reduces the time janitors have to spend cleaning lavatory walls.

What I can't understand is why anyone reads it. You may not always have a book or newspaper to hand when nature calls, but I doubt that anyone opens a laptop in the toilet, and there's always a risk that a phone may slip from your grasp.

[Billy Fisher]

I hear you. I?ve stayed off social media myself because I can?t stand all the negativity and venom that seems to spill out. It?s crazy how even the most tragic news, like that poor guy in Tenerife, can turn into a breeding ground for nasty comments. It really makes me wonder if social media is making things worse and breaking down the sense of community we used to have. It?s like people forget there are real people on the other side of the screen.

[Petrochemicals]

Well it adds to it, but you have to think a subcurrent was there before.

[alancalverd]

It?s like people forget there are real people on the other side of the screen.

Not "real people" but a subset of morons who have nothing better to do than read their ravings and ignorant speculation.