Amongst the many Christmas messages from figures of authority in the country, was an important and most powerful one by the Archbishop, Charles J. Scicluna.

One facet of his speech focused on something which, chances are, all of us come into contact with many times a day: social media.

“But honey and its sweetness does not only belong to bees. There is also ‘sweetness’ of kind words that touch the hearts of those who listen as we encourage and console them. We sometimes add so much bitterness and poison in our words and on social media. Unfortunately, at times we delight in insulting one another with harsh words! Where is the ‘sweetness’ in the words we speak?,” the Archbishop said in his Christmas message.

He is beyond right in his assessment. Time and time again this year, and in years prior, we have watched – even under our own articles – as people fight tooth and nail in the comments section, with arguments invariably descending into a ruckus of insults and name-calling.

Just two weeks ago, we had to intervene to remove comments where someone had actually threatened someone else with physical and bodily harm to someone else.  The victim of the threats subsequently filed a police report over the comments – one of no doubt many which the police’s recently set up hate speech unit has had to deal with.

Indeed, in September this year, some 20 people pleaded guilty to hate speech charges in relation to comments they posted beneath a video showing a Maltese man being assaulted by a group of foreigners.  Also this year, we saw people be charged in court in relation to threats and social media outbursts towards political figures such as Repubblika president Robert Aquilina and PN MP Karol Aquilina.

What we see leads us to question: what has happened to us as a society?  Why have we become so toxic… so hate-filled?  Why is our first response to a differing opinion an insatiable need to lob a mound of insults the other way?

The Archbishop is right in saying that many take delight in insulting one another with harsh words.  Exactly why that is the case is something which can be discussed long into the night.

We have always been a country characterised by our tribalistic divisions.  Be it politics, be it football teams, be it village feasts – be it anything else.  Social media has unfortunately given society the opportunity to exacerbate these divisions in, usually, uglier manners than ever before.

This is something which is also almost egged on by people who should know better – people like politicians who, instead of calling for people to handle things maturely and with some sense, will not resist a low jibe at their adversaries or who will not resist using social media to further their own cause, even if it means demonising their adversary.

It’s a bit cliché to speak of New Year’s resolutions, but if there’s something we really need to remember going into the New Year – it is to be kind.  Trust us, it won’t cost you anything and you’ll feel all the better for it.