Drunk Freshmen: A Lesson To Be Learned

We live in the era of a technological revolution, an age in which new gadgets and tools are at the tips of our fingers. As teenagers, we were born into a time of change and invention, and as a result, the Internet is a feeding ground for youngsters like us.

Innovative websites like Facebook and Tumblr have become popular amongst high schoolers for multiple reasons. Facebook is an easy, convenient way for students to socialize, connect with friends, or take care of virtual farms. Tumblr is a forum of artistic expression through photos, graphics, or memes.

Recently, a new website, “Drunk Freshmen”, has materialized out of nowhere, and can be described as the mutant lovechild of both Facebook and Tumblr. “Drunk Freshmen” is a Tumblr blog, but the creator of the site takes pictures off students’ Facebook pages, many of which depict underage kids participating in drug and alcohol use. The website creator also receives anonymous pictures or submissions through e-mail or the Tumblr messaging system.

Students from FVHS sometimes appear in these pictures, although many are also  Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, or Edison students. The website has generated tons of hits and has become popular quickly. Over the course of a few days, “Drunk Freshmen” has accumulated numerous followers and gained hundreds of likes on their Facebook page. (Yes, they even have a Facebook page.)

A comparable incident occurred last year, although it mostly targeted FVHS students and sparked a public service announcement from BBN. While not as widespread as the “Drunk Freshmen” craze, its intents and purposes were very similar. Both websites posted images of students being negatively portrayed in a public manner.

Truthfully, it may be difficult to combat this in a legal manner. Anonymity is protected under the laws of our country. Furthermore, Facebook owns any pictures uploaded to the site. This includes any beauty shots you took of your cat or photographs of a family camping trip. Technically, when you post a picture to Facebook, you are giving up all copyright control of such material. Websites like “Drunk Freshmen” are hovering in the gray area of Internet law.

But instead of arguing the legalities of it all, let’s try and learn a lesson or two. “Drunk Freshmen,” despite its promotion of drug and alcohol abuse and the over sexualized nature of today’s youth, is still an expression of free speech. It may be lacking in social awareness or any sense of human decency, but it sets a good example for the rest of us, and serves as a warning for the types of boundaries that the Internet offers.

Don’t put incriminating photos on the Internet. Make sure these pictures never even come close to a computer. Instead hide them in a metal lockbox underground or under a boulder in an abandoned forest. Leave decoy photos for your enemies to find.

If you have already posted “Drunk Freshmen”-esque photos to your Facebook profile, don’t publicize them. Secure your Facebook pictures. You never know who might look at them – your stalker, a future employer, or a vindictive foe ready to print out duplicate copies.

Technology has been a blessing for our generation, but for the unlucky few, it may just be their downfall. The only way to stay safe is to take extra precautions for privacy, and to not let Internet obsession get to your head.