Teens often make decisions about high-risk behaviors based on their perceptions of their peers' activities. They tend to over-estimate the degree to which peers partake in these behaviors, and it is easy to see how social media may contribute. Here is some interesting research on the effects of social media on teens' drinking behavior. "Teens exposed to their friends’ alcohol-related social media posts were more likely to start drinking. In fact, exposure to alcohol-related posts by peers was predictive of the adolescent drinking a year later... Furthermore, a teen’s beliefs about peer approval and disapproval of drinking act as another process leading to drinking behaviors."
Are you tempted to snoop? Read this piece by Lisa Damour, Ph.D. first.
Check out Andrew P. Smiler, Author's fantastic guideline for conversations about sex with your son (or daughter!!!). Note, that's conversations, plural. Don't try to squeeze it all into one talk.
Parents underestimate their own teens' drinking. This is an awesome piece from American Academy of Pediatrics on why and how you should start the conversation about alcohol with your kids.