ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) — A message from teens to parents: some adolescents say you might not know as much as you think about their social media profiles. Students at an Albuquerque, New Mexico high school said their recent study revealed a surprising number of teens are exposed to illicit drug use on one certain website.
According to the study, Snapchat, in particular, is used by teenagers to communicate illicit materials.
The Snapchat rule page lists “sharing moments and having fun” as one of the social media platform’s top priorities.
Yet, despite the list of guidelines, some adolescents say it is often used inappropriately.
“It’s more of, like, the dirtier social media,” University of New Mexico freshman Matt Manicke said. “Snapchat’s like the one you post stuff on there if you’re partying or something to show like, ‘Hey! Look at me!'” Manicke says he sees it every day on his own Snapchat feed.
Manicke says he sees it every day on his own Snapchat feed.
“This person’s drinking at a party or this person’s smoking weed,” Manicke said.
Now, he has data to prove just how prevalent drug-related Snapchats are.
Manicke is one of several Sandia Prep students who conducted research on adolescent illicit drug use and social media, specifically, Snapchat.
Their results revealed teens participating in the study came across about two drug-related Snapchat stories a day.
Student researchers asked teens to open up their Snapchat stories and then describe each one, frame by frame. That includes how many people are there and what they’re doing.
“It was a lot of work,” University of New Mexico Associate Professor Jennifer Hettema said.
Hettema says she worked with Sandia Prep’s Wellness Coordinator, Karen Lyall, and the students to help lay the foundation for the study by teaching them research around adolescent health and research methods.
Yet, she says the students did the work themselves and for good reason.
“Kids might freak out if an adult was like, ‘hey, can you open your Snapchat for me,” Manicke said.
This is why he and Hettema believe their results were likely accurate, and why they say parents should start paying better attention.
The students collected their data at retail and entertainment venues, like shopping malls and skate parks.
Most of the posts about illicit drug use were about marijuana. Manicke believes it’s because it’s becoming more widely accepted.
Editors Note: Much of the footage used in the story is part of Chris Schueler’s documentary, “New Marijuana”, set to air on Media General affiliate KRQE at 7 p.m. on September 3.Find 8News on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram; send your news tips toiReport8@wric.com.
