I think the combination of access to anonymous social media, or at least access to media without any physical interaction, leads to a lack of empathy and hostile behavior. Then you have the echo chamber effect where any group has its beliefs amplified and the extreme members get the most attention. It is trivial to react hostilely and leave a comment like “Go kill yourself” on someone’s post. The other person is just a block of text to you. When I write something I have to reread it a few times to determine “How will someone misinterpret this negatively?” and sometimes I feel like I’m writing for an audience of rabid dogs just itching to bite me. All too often even the most innocuous comment will still get a ridiculously hostile response. I’d say this isn’t just an American issue on the internet either. I see it with Europeans and Asians. It is a human issue.

Sadly now negativity has become a kneejerk response. Every stranger’s motivations are a personal attack on you, everything is part of some grand conspiracy aimed at you, etc. America’s obsession with individualism vs society as a whole seems to have reduced everyone to a crazed survivalist hiding in their bunker.

“many Americans are physically beating their children” I’d say this is MUCH less now than in the past and is now strictly enforced.

“you can’t even safely walk alone in public during the night” Depends on where you live. There have always been “bad neighborhoods” in cities and this is true around the world. I have never felt in danger walking alone at night around my area. I’m sure there are neighborhoods in, say, Paris or Marseille you wouldn’t walk around by yourself at night.