The leading trend on UK Twitter today is #PunishAMuslimDay. The Guido Fawkes political blog’s comments section is full of staggering, blatant anti-semitism. Social media has become a cesspool of racism and every other form of bigotry and stupidity imaginable. The world appears to be getting considerably dumber by the day.

For many years I was evangelical about the internet. I was convinced it would help us become more connected, better educated, more understanding.

I got that one wrong, didn’t I?