(Image source: The Imperfect Parent)

BY ANLI XIAO
 

ANCHOR GARY COTTON

Can Facebook tell if college students have drinking problems? A new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine says your Facebook photos can reveal more than how much fun you had on Spring Break.

Let’s hear from Insider Medicine...

“Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison examined the public Facebook profiles of more than 300 undergraduates aged 18 to 20 attending one of two state universities. ... Students whose profiles showed intoxication or problem drinking were more than four times as likely as those whose profiles contained no material about alcohol consumption to have drinking questionnaire results also suggesting problem drinking.”

16 percent of students in the sample showed signs of problem drinking. But before people go looking to Facebook for indicators -- an addiction psychiatrist says actually using this method might be more trouble than its worth.

New York State Psychiatric Institute Doctor Adam Bisaga tells HealthDay in a report posted by US News and World Report...

"It's certainly an interesting method. But without asking the specific questions you need to ask of people, you might end up picking up misleading indicators. ... this procedure could raise more practical problems than benefits."

And The Inquirer says the study might not be so dependable because -- well, it’s hard to tell how drunk someone is by pictures...

“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 … 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. ”

The That’s What She Said blog weighs in-- Alcoholism. College. Facebook. You must be kidding!

“So you are telling me, that 16% of college students are problem drinkers? I mean, come on, let’s call it what it is, we are ALL problem drinkers. ... Drop the high and mighty act and come have a beer with me before I go to my 9 am. You want to use my Facebook to decide whether or not I drink too much? Go ahead, the answer is Yes.”