Paige Snyder

Abstract:

Abstract: Living in a world that has been taken over by technology and social media, individuals have observed the way it’s glamorized our view on risky behaviors, such as substance use. Moreno and Whitehall say, “Participation in online social media Web sites (e.g., Facebook and Twitter) has skyrocketed in recent years and created a new environment in which adolescents and young adults may be exposed to and influenced by alcohol-related content” (Moreno et al, 2014). These social media platforms do not regulate posts with alcohol, or strive to display alcohol as risky, instead, pictures with alcohol can be posted anywhere to show the enjoyment of overindulging on alcohol. The glamorization and widespread of alcohol use on the media has played the largest role in high school and college students, as they are below the legal drinking age of 21. Underage drinking has existed for years prior to social media; however, with the implementation of social media influence, the percentage of people, especially underage, who drink alcohol has only gone up. The media doesn’t only show the audience that underage drinking isn’t a problem, but that binge drinking isn’t either. According to The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “almost 55% of full-time college students between the ages of 18 and 22 drank alcohol in the past month and about 37% engaged in binge drinking” (Social Media Influences… , 2023). This presentation will attempt to analyze the historical evolution of social media and its display of alcohol and how it’s spiked the numbers of alcohol consumption. References: Moreno, M. A., & Whitehill, J. M. (2014). Influence of Social Media on Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Young Adults. Alcohol research : current reviews, 36(1), 91–100. Social media influences on alcohol use: Duquesne University. Duquesne University School of Nursing. (2023, March 7). Retrieved March 24, 2023, from https://onlinenursing.duq.edu/blog/social-media-influences-on-alcohol-use/