Whether you indulge in it or not, social media has become a part of all of our lives because it impacts society on such an expansive level at this point! Social media has been praised by some, and condemned by others, but at it's core social media is truly a very good thing, with very serious consequences.

Social media has given a voice to everyone:

Like it or not, we all have a way to speak now! Voices that have been repressed for hundreds of years are now able to speak up on whatever platform they choose. Not only can we all find a platform on which to speak, but anyone from anywhere around the world can find and be empowered by your words. We are in an incredible time in history in which everyone has the chance to make an impact. What you speak out about on Facebook today can be seen by millions tomorrow, while also being a feature on the Ellen Show! No one can dictate the impact that your voice can have on people the world over, and that is an incredible human feat!

We have seen the power of social media through movements like Feminism and Black Lives Matter, and how quickly a small group can make headlines across the globe, and force us to truly challenge antiquated views on how our society is run. We no longer have the right to be uninformed, because the way the world is changing is at your fingertips, and we are constantly given new things to contemplate. Everything from social activities to groundbreaking political changes has happened using the all-powerful social media! It may seem scary to some, but the revolution that is social media has given everyone the chance to put their thoughts--thoughts that we all need to hear--into the world, and I think that is incredible.

Many have used their newfound voice to hurt others:

While social media has an incredible global impact, it is simultaneously an acutely personal experience. There are constant arguments against social media, claiming it's desensitizing us from personal communication, and I am going to have to call bull on all of that! Social media has an incredibly personal impact, and that is unfortunately, ruining lives for some. Cyberbullying, and subsequent suicides are astounding, and there is little to be done. The internet cannot be regulated--and we don't want it to be! However, a lack of rules and punishments can mean that some are left to fend for themselves against those attacking them. Cyberbullying is just the beginning, social media is also reservoir for things such as sexism, racism, and homophobia to amplify. Then, at the very end of the horrible spectrum, there are the internet predators. People that seek to kidnap, rape, abuse, and kill using the very click of a button. Social media has opened so many doors for us all, and not all of them hold wonderful things behind them.

Whether you love or hate social media, it is not going away any time soon! Parents, it will impact your children on some level, and kids you have to be responsible when you make the decision to join the craze. We have gained so much from the birth of social media, and it holds the potential to bring about great ideas for decades to come; if we proceed with some caution. Surf safely.