Technology is rapidly advancing and has been for the past 20 years. As technology grew and developed, we become more and more reliant on it. Especially the younger generations. People are often quick to point this out, and also point out that when they were our age they didn’t do these things. I think these people also forget that the same technologies were not available to them when they were young. They are quick to criticize us for “always being on our phones” when they never had the opportunities we have had.

I will not apologize for my selfies, or my Snapchats, or my addiction to Twitter, to anyone. Thanks to social media, I can keep my best friends who live in other states updated with my life as it happens. I can take pictures with my favorite people and share them quickly and easily. I am used to instant gratification because that is where society is today. There is nothing wrong with wanting things fast and easy because that is the world we were raised in. We live in an era where my best friend can live in Boston and I can video chat with her, and it's like we’re in the same room.

Thanks to college, I have friends all over New Jersey. If it weren’t for technology, I would have no way to maintain these friendships while I’m at home. Now if I want to see what they’re up to, I can check their social media accounts or text them and instantly know they’re OK.

Technology has also given us the chance to have real, to the minute, news updates. When things go wrong across the world, we find out in a heartbeat. And thanks to social media, we can make sure that our loved ones are safe when tragedy strikes.

I can film my baby brothers' first steps, first words and first day of school, and have these memories at my fingertips whenever I want them. I can film life changing moments. The tragic deaths of Philando Castile can be captured on video and shared. I can take pictures with loved ones and share them instantly.

I understand that technology may be scary and intimidating to some. But please, do not degrade my

generation for using our cell phones, the internet and social media regularly when you would have done the same given the chance.

I will not put my phone down just because you are ignorant to change. Please keep taking selfies and posting on Instagram. The world is at our fingertips, and it would be ignorant to not use it.