Police in Lombard, Illinois who were investigating parties in which underage drinking was said to have taken place used the online social networking site Facebook to indentify some of the suspected drinkers.

"On January 5, a party at a house in Lombard was apparently the hot spot for some partying teens. A DuPage County sheriff's deputy found pictures of Glenbard South and East high school students at the party of Facebook pages. Four students shown drinking were charged with possession of alcohol by a minor..."

A total of nineteen students were identified in the photos, several of who were student athletes and are likely to be suspended for a portion of their seasons.

Labels: drinking, social_networking, underage_drinking

Adults who work with young people are increasingly concerned about materials they are posting on websites like Facebook and MySpace.

Hundreds of college and high school students are posting pictures of themselves drunk, vomiting and urinating, often half-dressed or naked in settings like toilet stalls. Some of them include their complete names and the names of their schools.

"They're not a thoughtful bunch, by and large," said Robert Carothers, president of the University of Rhode Island and a former member of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse.

He and others point out that potential employers can view at these postings, which often last for years on web searches. Carothers says that he has told students, "Look, these pictures are evidence you're doing something illegal."

However, many on Facebook have the attitude of the anonymous poster who wrote, "It's just something fun. You need to be able to laugh at yourself sometimes."

College binge drinking remains a serious problem on most campuses. The Center on Alcohol and Substance Abuse reported this year that almost 40% of college students participate in binge drinking at least once a year.

Learn more about college binge drinking at DrugRehabTreatment.com

Labels: binge_drinking, regrets, social_networking

Should schools provide computer access to social network websites like Facebook and MySpace? Despite the results of a recent study that says such websites can be educational, child advocacy groups and some educators believe it's better to keep them out of schools.

An online survey of 1,277 students ages 9 to 17 years old found that 69% use social network sites to talk about education or homework online.

Some educators and child advocacy groups point out that this study was done by the National School Board Administration, which is partially sponsored by the owners of MySpace and Facebook. The report from the Administration said "social networking sites are deeply embedded in the lifestyles of teens," and recommended that teachers find ways "to harness their educational value."

Labels: myspace, schools, social_networking

About one-third of the teenagers who spend time online say they have been victims of cyberbullying, according to a new study. However, two-thirds of the teens reported that most bullying occurs off-line. Girls and those who use social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook were more likely to be bullied than other online users. The study, by the Pew Institute and the American Life Project, involved phone interviews with 866 children ages 12 to 17 years.

Learn more about online bullying and find help for parents of troubled teens at ByParents-ForParents.com.

Labels: bullying, online_safety, social_networking