ALBANY, N.Y. -- Experts say sexual assault is nothing new, but with silence breakers being named Time Magazine's Person of the Year, it can only help to solve the problem.

Advocates we spoke to say they are pleasantly surprised to see Time's announcement. They say since the #MeToo movement on social media, they have seen an increase in people calling to report and discuss cases of sexual violence and harassment.

"A lot of people said they didn't realize it was violence and they are looking at their situation very differently," said Karen Ziegler, director of Albany County's Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center. "A lot of people recognized it was violence, but didn't think they would be believed or no one would care enough to do something about it, so we're having a lot of calls."

Ziegler says she hopes this will help to continue the conversation and change the culture surrounding sexual harassment.