Posting drunken Facebook pictures increases your chances of alcoholism

PEOPLE WHO POST PICTURES of themselves drunk on Facebook are more likely to become alcoholics, according to a study by the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

The survey of 224 undergraduates showed that those who posted pictures of their drunken selves on the social network were considerably more at risk of alcohol dependence and abuse, Reuters reports.

The students were given a 10 question survey used to determine those at risk of alcoholism, and then researchers scoured their Facebook profiles, including their publicly available pictures, to see if there was a match between the answers given and the online behaviour exhibited.

The results showed that 60 per cent of those who mentioned or showed pictures of themselves being drunk were at risk of developing drinking problems, compared to only 38 per cent who made minor references to alcohol and 23 per cent who made no references at all.

Of course, what exactly determines if someone is drunk in a picture, apart from the obvious male body parts drawn on people's faces after they've passed out? Perhaps the researchers used Facebook's ever so handy facial recognition software to identify plastered individuals. Being tagged as 'absolutely hammered Joe' was probably also a clue.

Another warning factor is the fact that these pictures were uploaded in the first place. Considering the majority of Facebook photos that no sober person could ever upload, we expect that the sheer fact that someone is drunk enough to upload them is enough reason to be worried about how much they're drinking.

The survey also suggests that people who spend large amounts of time on Facebook actually do have a social life as well, even if they cannot remember it the next day. At least they have Facebook pictures as reminders, however.

Some members of The INQUIRER's staff have begun hastily removing pictures from their Facebook profiles in efforts to lower their chances of developing, er, drink problems. But we doubt that works. µ