SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Teens on Instagram are more likely to binge drink when they're in college, according to studies conducted by Loyola Marymount University.
The studies found that Instagram is the most likely destination for posts glamorizing drinking among young college students, while Facebook was the least. Snapchat was the most likely destination to show the consequences of drinking.
The studies also found that students exposed to alcohol-related posts from friends were more likely to binge drink six months later.
"It normalizes alcohol use among teens," said Karina Camacho, a prevention specialist with the San Diego Institute for Public Strategies. "Students and young people are inundated with a lot of alcohol-related images on Instagram. They think that's what everyone's doing, and therefore it's cool."
According to one of the studies, male students were more likely to be affected by their friends' posts.
Susan Boyle, one of the studies' authors, will present the info Friday to San Diego-area students, teachers, school administrators and university representatives.
Camacho hopes they can use the information to teach their students that what they see on social media doesn't always reflect real life.
"It gives you just a snapshot, not the whole story of the situation," she said.
She added teens usually don't post about their hangovers or DUI arrests, or any of the drama at the bar caused by alcohol.
Read the full results of the study at http://lmu.academia.edu/SarahCBoyle and https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah_Boyle3/publications.
