I feel like the majority of the articles I write pertain to social media, but realistically, social media plays a huge part in our lives, so it makes sense. Anytime we find ourselves with a few free minutes, most of us are scrolling through Twitter or more recently, chasing Pokémon. We all know the “put your phone away” look our moms give and the lecture that follows about how young adults in this upcoming generation constantly indulge in cellphone use. The majority of the buzz that follows social media is pretty negative, sometimes with reason, but many people fail to see the positive effects of social media.

1. Staying In The Know

For starters, social media and technology are great ways to become aware of current events. Personally, I can’t honestly say I check news websites daily, but scrolling through Twitter or Facebook is convenient and helpful. Although most of the content I find regarding current events on social networks is opinion-based, seeing these posts causes me to look deeper into certain current events and form a strong opinion of my own. Social networks most certainly aren’t the most reliable place to obtain information, but they are a great way to be in touch with the world around you and what’s going on.

2. Hashtags

The power of the hashtag is undeniable. I’ve written on this before, but the reaction from millennials, especially on social networks, to the riots in Dallas and the death of Alton Sterling blew me away. Hashtags connect people talking about similar things and create a sort of unity among users raising awareness for the same cause. The hashtags not only for these atrocities, but also for the tragedy in Paris earlier in the year and for many other tragedies draw so much attention. They get young people thinking about what’s going on in society, and they are a pretty powerful tool. While they may not offer information, they do grab attention and get people involved I current events. My parents and grandparents have all asked me what on earth a hashtag is countless times, and up until I put pen to paper today, I really haven’t been able to explain it. Most older people scoff at social media usage and think of tools like the hashtag as trivial, but they fail to see the purpose and power behind these devices.

3. Sharing Information

If you have something to say, social networks will not only hear you, but they will also tell others. This is where the power of retweets, shares and quotes come in. Social networks provide a platform for people around the world to speak their minds as well as to have their words be heard. As an Odyssey creator, I’ve recently realized how quickly shares can spread information. Oftentimes, my articles, or the articles written by others in my community, receive hundreds of shares. People we know share our article, then people they know share our articles, and the cycle continues, racking up a hefty amount of shares for our articles. It’s crazy how many eyes see the things you put on the internet. Social networks project our thoughts to countless viewers. Obviously there’s a lot of trivial crap to sift through when scrolling through Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, but there’s also a lot of great stuff out there posted by people just wanting to spread their ideas and opinions. Social media helps them do that.

4. Networking

Have I mentioned that social networks are a great way to find a job? Networks such as Linkd-In and various others connect professionals to opportunities every single day. I personally don’t use any of them quite yet, but I know finding my place in the working world will be much easier with the aid of these networks. Searching for a job out of college is a scary prospect, at least to me, and having these tools puts me at ease.

5. Memes

Sometimes you need a meme to get you through the day. I promise all the stuff I called trivial earlier actually has a purpose. We all have those days where nothing seems to go our way, and a meme or a funny video always makes those days brighter for me. My personal favorite currently is the trending Vine of the corgi going down the steps. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out. It’s great.

So whether you’re picking up your phone to engage in the talk on social networks about current events or just to look at funny memes, social networking is not something older generations should ever make you feel ashamed about. There are so many positives to social media as long as it’s used responsibly.