While statistics clearly show that women do not have equal representation in positions of power at the largest companies (less than one third of general counsel at Fortune 500 companies are women), there are many prominent female executives in the technology space. From Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg to Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman, women are making headway in hi-tech corporations. So, what is the role of technology in modern feminism?

CNN digital correspondent Kelly Wallace examined this issue after taking part in a panel on the intersection of technology and empowerment at this year's SXSW festival. She pointed to the technology's ability to connect women and expose social issues as positive forces, but also recognized the dark side of such connectivity.

One positive effect that technology has had on social issues related to women is through bringing awareness. Social media sites and apps have brought to light the horrors of human trafficking and given a voice to those who advocate for women's rights around the world. On the other hand, women in the panel recognized that technology has made sex trafficking easier, and noted that the anonymity of Internet message boards allows people to air prejudices that they might otherwise keep to themselves.