The world of social media can either be used for good or to spread hate and negativity.

Today, more than ever, social media impacts every aspect of our lives. We rarely experience moments that are truly free from the online world. While social media plays a vital role within today's society, it can also be used as a playground for online hate, negativity and disconnect. Since the Internet and social media both play such a significant role within our lives, sometimes it's hard to distinguish what's real and what's not.

It's hard to remember that behind every tweet, Instagram post, Facebook status, photo, “like" and “share," there is a person producing the content. Everyone sees the things you post. The things you say on social media have the ability to impact real individuals who experience real emotions.

It's important to realize your voice is extremely powerful, and should be treated as such. With so much instant connection, people need to understand we have an obligation to uphold a positive, cooperative space for online use. We have a lot of power in our hands when it comes to social media.

People are affected by what they see and what is said about them. The way you are perceived through social media has a huge impact on your life and what others think of you. At some point in our lives, we have all been guilty of using social media in a negative way, but it's time to fully realize and take responsibility for the things that we say and post.

You have a voice that reaches thousands of people. Instead of using this voice to spread hate and negativity, try spreading awareness about things that actually matter. We all have a responsibility to stop the cycle of online hate and move forward.