For as long as I can remember, technology has been expanding beyond what even my grandparents thought was possible. I can remember when owning a smartphone was a big deal, and the growth didn't stop there. Before we even realized what was happening, we were able to keep our entire lives in one tiny gadget.

Recently, I came across a video on Instagram with some wise words from Prince. He stated, "Don't be fooled by the internet. It's cool to get on the computer, but don't let the computer get on you. It's cool to use the computer, but don't let the computer use you."

Those words have been gnawing at the back of my head for a few days now.

In today's society, it's considered abnormal if you don't have multiple accounts across different social platforms. It's turned into a place where young people go to seek validation, vent, and share personal information they may regret later on.

Personally, I've fallen into this trap more than I'd care to admit. We all seem to be caught up in the number of likes, comments, and shares we get on our posts. As a high schooler, it was even trapped in my mind that if someone didn't follow you, they weren't really your friend.

I used to obsess over what people thought of me online so much that I eventually had to stop posting. It took me over a year before I felt comfortable putting up a picture on Instagram, and that was only after realizing I shouldn't let other people's opinions break me down.

Prince had a good point, but none of us seem to be listening. What was initially supposed to be a way for us to connect with people from all across the globe is very quickly turning into a toxic pool full of popularity contests and hatred. That doesn't mean it's all bad, but it does mean we should re-evaluate what exactly we are using this technology for.