Twitter Trend Glorifies Binge Drinking and Alcoholism
Most adolescents and young adults don’t understand the life-threatening dangers posed by binge drinking. “Pass out pages,” a new social media trend, is a perfect example of that misunderstanding. Via Twitter, thousands of underage students are now posting pictures that glamorize the results of binge drinking sessions.
In pictures posted to pass out pages, young women are seen passed out on bathroom floors or vomiting into a toilet. Many male students, on the other hand, are shown lying face-down in the snow or slumped over the steering wheel of a car with captions that say “man down” or “long night.” What makes this trend increasingly disturbing is that the pictures seem to serve as a badge of honor; the more shocking the better.
The Ugly Truth
While a small group of students say this social media trend is harmless, others are warning parents about the dangers of binge drinking and the notion of publicizing drunken photos. According to multiple media outlets, a large portion of the pictures on pass out pages depict underage students. With underlying hopes of “getting famous,” more and more students are hoping to post the most outrageous or controversial photo yet.
Twitter has yet to comment on individual pass out pages, but their official rules state the company does not “actively monitor and will not censor user content.” The only exception to this rule is when (or if) the content posted to individual Twitter accounts is found to be related to physical/sexual abuse or pornography.
Binge Drinking is a Real Problem
According to research conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 38 million adults binge drink an average of four times a month, consuming eight or more drinks in one sitting. What’s more, binge drinking is most common among 18 to 34 year olds, and according to the CDC, nine out of ten people under the age of 21 who consume alcohol will binge drink.
Signs of Binge Drinking
For the parents of at-risk students, monitoring social media accounts is a great prevention tool. In addition, recognizing the signs of binge drinking is essential. Warning signs include:
- Display of daredevil or risky behaviors
- Weekends are spent drinking to excess
- Temporary lapse of memory
- Personal relationships are ignored or avoided
- School or work performance declines
Learn more about binge drinking and the long-term effects of alcohol abuse and addiction
All photos via pass out pages on Twitter