With all of the arguments and the anger that we see online, I think we could all use some practice in empathy - including myself.
The biggest issue is not that we don't have empathy - most people do.
The biggest issue, in my opinion, is that we have this tendency to compare rather than to distance ourselves and empathize.
When we see another person struggling and being featured online or in the news, instead of sitting back and saying "wow that is a tough situation", our instinct nowadays is to say: "So what? I'm struggling too - maybe even more so - why are they being given so much attention and I'm suffering in silence?"
This adds to anger.
We need to re-learn how to step back and look objectively. Not every story is personal. Not every situation is worth comparison.
When we continuously compare our own thoughts, opinions, and experiences with those of others, especially when those other situations have nothing to do with us.
It is important to separate ourselves from situations and stories that we see that give us an immediately intense reaction. If we can step back and analyze whether or not it really affects us, our lives, or the lives of those we care about, and decide to empathize and move on, I believe anger will lessen. Sometimes it is just not at all worth the time and effort to compare and criticize.
I, myself, have to learn to reduce my own comparisons.