Researchers say photos of young Kiwis drinking on Facebook have become an essential part of the drinking culture in New Zealand, The Press reports.
The research paper from Massey University, titled “Flaunting it on Facebook”, says young people spend hours creating "air-brushed drinking profiles" and research author and professor Antonia Lyons says that the photos are being used to extend the experience of a night out.
“Facebook is a crucial part of young people's drinking culture, particularly photos. They plan their drinking . . . do updates throughout the night . . . then the next morning relive the night before through photos, she said.”
Lyons added that it’s especially young women that spend time on their “drinking profile” making sure they don’t look “too drunk”, which obscures what’s really happened.
“This culture plays down the harm. They don't show the photos of people falling down the stairs, for example.”
Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said that these types of photos were creating the wrong perception of the culture.
“It creates a perception that everyone is drinking that way and this is a normal pattern of drinking,” he said.
