Taming a Beast

My first interaction with any form of social media was with Youtube about nine years ago when my father found some odd music video he wanted to show me. I think I asked him more about the website then the actual video.
 The idea of using social media as a data gatherer or an extreme marketing tool didn't cross the mind of 14 year old me. I thought about how easy it would be find anything I've ever wanted to watch or even things I've never been able to watch.
  Back when I made my Facebook account I remember never thinking twice about what I was posting or sharing because I was under the impression that only people who I wanted to see this information could see it. Now I have to think a few minutes about whether or not I want to share something or talk about something with others because everyone has heard or seen something where a life was ruined or otherwise impacted negatively because of careless social media usage.
 A group of my friends from high school got themselves into some hot water when a friend posted a video from another student on Facebook. Normally this wouldn't be an issue but my friend decided to call out the person who made the video saying it was one of the worst pieces he had ever seen made in the media class we had all taken.
 As soon as the post went up other friends and students started commenting on how bad they also thought the video was. The next day at school my friend was approached by a few of the staff and was told to remove the post or else there would be consequences. The student who's video my friend had posted went to the Principal and said that he felt like he was being bullied. My friend had never been accused of bullying and in fact was a victim of it. Social media made him feel like he was empowered and so he did something that was out of character for someone who many had know as a quite straight A student.
 "With great power comes great responsibility". Many groan or roll their eyes when they hear this often over used quote from Spider-Man but it's reality. Social media can lead the world into an age of great change and communication, and that is as long as we use it responsibly.  
 From the current ongoings with the Flint, Michigan water crisis to global warming social media keeps many up to date with what is going on with the world. Those same people are no longer watching the six o'clock news or CNN so it's important that they still be informed with what effects their life's or makes them think about big issues. Social media is what is keeping the world together and allowing small voices to become big ones when they otherwise would often be overlooked or even smothered. Everyone just needs to remain responsible.