We can not deny it, the western world is well intrigued with technology. It is nearly impossible to walk into a restaurant and fail to see a multitude of people on their cell phones. That is just the reality of the culture in the United States today.

So often, we see the negatives to social media, especially when so often compare our lives to those we follow through the screen. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become a place where harsh comments and issues of sexism/racism never fail to appear on the screen. We let our brains consume these images and they effect the way we see the world and the way we treat others.

Not everyone is guilty of posting cruel and harsh comments on social media, yet most would say they have been a victim of online shaming at some point in their lives. This is where we, as a society, have some work to do.

So, what is the solution to the problem? Some would suggest that unplugging and cutting social media out completely is the best way to avoid conflict and bullying. While I do not disagree with that decision, I have found that there are some other options than avoiding social media all together. If we collectively attempt to use social media for good rather than bad, things will get better. We could enjoy technology and spread positive stories through these websites and that is worth it. Any smile, inspiration, or hope a story brings to someones life is worth sharing. Buried under all of the hurt, pain, and unnecessary comments, there is a lot of good.

The amount of power that online platforms hold is tremendous. It is possible to use this media for awareness. Take a break from the politics and instead plaster social media with the positive things happening in the world for a little while rather than the negative. Every day, we see some really important things happening through websites and it is time that we bring those to light for a minute and consider the good that social media brings.

Missing people have been found through social media shares, such as this couple.

Cute puppies have taken over Twitter with thousands of retweets, like this little guy.

Funds have been raised to support others facing tragedy.

The list could go on with the amount of inspirational stories shared, the awareness of certain diseases raised and the amount of support for families that have been expressed through social media.

You see, there is a lot of good behind the disrespectful comments, political talk and online drama. Each of us play a role in what goes onto our social media channels. Use yours to spread positive things. Yes, your opinion matters, but with that comes the responsibility to do so in a manner that is respectful to those around us. There is no need to plaster comments that are meant to deteriorate some one else's self image all over the internet.