Spending time on Facebook will not cure your despair

Abstract

One of the traits that is seemingly inherent in a good number of Maltese citizens is the unquenchable thirst to know what others are doing. This is a crucial precursor to another favourite activity of ours, namely, gossiping. While some may disagree, these features are as endearing as they are irritating, and constitute an important part of our identity as the noisy and colourful bunch of the Mediterranean. Though this may merit scientific enquiry, such traits are probably not the result of a ‘nosy’ gene that the Maltese are born with but are more likely brought about by socioenvironmental factors.