Teenagers tend to be a fan of the saying, “don’t worry what other people think,” reblogging artsy pictures with the phrase on Tumblr and considering it worthy of an Instagram bio. And sometimes, you shouldn’t care. It’s important to let loose and have fun, but there is a time and place for everything.

As much as this fact is disliked, opinions matter, especially those of influential people. The attitudes of well-known figures have the power to sway nations. Just look at Donald Trump: his brash comments put him on top of the polls for the GOP presidential candidate.

On a more applicable level to high schoolers, the opinions of parents, teachers, administrators or any adult associated with them have a lot of leverage over our futures — from college to careers.

No matter how much we wish they wouldn’t, people (especially teens) are quick to judge, and quick to share. Before you’ve even talked to a person, you’ve likely already formulated some kind of opinion about them. You may have heard someone else’s opinion about them, or seen pictures of them, or casually Instagram-stalked them and based your own ideas off of a few perfected posts.

With constantly upgrading smartphones, nearly two-thirds of Americans have access to a camera. It is becoming increasingly simple to snap a quick picture or send a brief text, sharing slanderous information or images that portray you badly to the community. Grosse Pointe is so tightly knit and interconnected, that if one person hears something juicy, it spreads all the way to your history teacher.

High school plus technology builds a nest for hurtful information and a vehicle for it to travel by. We must be extremely mindful of the image we project to the world.

The route of our lives is often determined by certain people’s opinions about us. Think job interviews, college acceptances, leadership positions. If you are careless with your self-image, it may come back to bite you. You can never be sure of who knows who, or when you may need their support. In a survey that asked 43 colleges from the midwest (including all Big Ten universities), 67 percent admitted to Googling applicants, and 86 percent said that they research a student’s social media. No tweet or picture is entertaining enough to risk my future.

Be cautious of what you say, do and post. Always present your digital footprint in a positive light. And if you do hear something bad about a peer, do them a favor and keep it to yourself. The last thing you want is to have some big opportunity down the road be hindered by something you did in high school.

On Oct. 16, Jimmy Hubert disappeared after a sorority mixer. He was found, alive but unresponsive, lying face down in a ditch. Hubert’s friends successfully tracked him using the Find My iPhone app and were able to get him medical attention.

Josh Koger nearly died from a downed power line in 2008. Although he evaded death, he lost both of his hands. He now has prosthetics that can be controlled by an app called Touch Bionics.

Although different in nature, these two topics have one very apparent similarity: technology.

Hubert was found unresponsive. If his friends weren’t able to track him, he could have died. Did technology save his life?

Koger’s app-controlled extensions can do more than the normal prosthetic hand. The motors inside Touch Bionic’s prosthetic hands allow Koger access to 24 more movements than with original prosthetics, including being able to hold his daughter’s hand, something he hasn’t been able to do in over five years.

Our generation is referred to as the “the millennials,” and that carries negative connotations. Many say our technology-driven lifestyle is lacking because it puts focus on less important topics and takes away from our human connections, but I disagree. Of course, constantly checking your Twitter feed or videotaping your little sister’s dance recital for Instagram instead of actually watching it is not the best way to experience life, but is it really that atrocious? We may live through technology, but technology could be our salvation. Its pros definitely outweigh its cons.

Doctor Mole is an app that helps monitor your skin’s moles and diagnose skin cancer. Doctor Mole uses real-time photo analysis, augmented reality technology and other advanced technology to search for threats to the user’s health. Using this app could potentially save someone from dying of skin cancer. This app is innovative and a prime example of technology’s positive effects on society. This example is not a diamond in the rough, but rather a growing trend that shows how technology is making our lives better every day.

Is being a member of “the millennials” such a terrible thing? Jimmy Hubert, whose life was potentially saved by technology, probably would not think so. Josh Koger, who can now hold his daughter’s hand from technology, most likely would not think that teens losing some conversation skills is more detrimental to our society than people living their lives without a limb. Users who were able to get their skin cancer treated at an early stage because of the Doctor Mole app would probably agree with the idea that technology is the key to our success, and I think so too.

Maybe I check Twitter too much and maybe I think scrolling through my Instagram feed is more entertaining than reading a book. Maybe I enjoy playing Angry Birds more than doing homework, and I could definitely spend more time talking to people in person instead of texting them. Although there are negatives that come with technology’s growing influence, it is definitely not deplorable. Technology may have its flaws, but it’s the future, and the future is bright.