Risk-Behaviors on Display on Social Networks

A study by the University of Washington analyzed Web profiles of five hundred 18-year-olds in 2007. Information the researchers used was publically available on MySpace. The conclusion was that young people very often post information about risk-type behaviors such as sex, drugs, alcohol, and violence. About half of the profiles studied included one or more risk behaviors. Since 2007, social networking has grown and instances of risk disclosures have most likely increased. Besides, as educators know, students, especially preteens, often list their ages on social networks as several years older, which means that some of the students in this study were probably younger than 18. Researchers suggest that because young people seem willing to share these behaviors through social networks that social networks might be perfect places for getting accurate health and risk behavior information to teens.