You know the person that you keep talking about on social media is not who you think they are. You most likely do not even know them from black or white, nor do you know their story. The faces that we see each and every day are not always true. Each face hides stories of their past that we would never be able to know by just looking at them. We have no room to judge them, especially if we do not even truly know them.

Ask yourself: Why do you sit there on your phone anonymously saying things about these poor, innocent people? What pleasure are you receiving from it? Do you think that what you’re doing is morally correct in any way? Are you proud of what you are doing?

The answers to those questions are probably very clear to you, and they might even come as a shock. You probably do not even know the effects that you have on everyone around you. Maybe you have gone through something similar and this is your way of coping. Perhaps you think that what you are doing is funny. But on the other end of that social media site, someone else is aching in pain and agony all because of the words you are choosing to use.

The reality is that many people have been bullied at least once in their lifetime. As the saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But this isn’t entirely true. Words do hurt. You are lowering her self-esteem, giving her a bad reputation, and potentially jeopardizing her future. One status, one comment, one picture, one word can go a long way… way further than you would ever think.

So take this moment to reflect on who you truly are. Are you the person that you think you are? Would your family and friends be as proud of you as you think if they knew what you were doing? Do you really and truly know that person that you’re talking about? Do you even know who you truly are?

If you could not answer yes to all of those questions, then something needs to change. Start today and make yourself a better person in the eyes of everyone around you. Stop bringing other people down with you, and start lifting everyone’s spirits and brightening their day. One status, one comment, one picture, one word can go a very long way. So make each thing positive, happy, and encouraging for those that see your posts and comments to smile or laugh. Just remember that you do not know what they are going through, and your words could make or break them.