Have you ever noticed those pictures on Facebook? You know, the ones of the people you’ve known since grade school? The ones you went to high school with and you don’t talk to anymore. The ones you do. And the people who you don’t like, and they don’t like you either, but you add them anyway because you need to build up your “friends” list.

Yes, we all know you’re guilty of it, just about everyone is. But have you noticed what so many of these people have in common? It’s those pictures. People partying, drinking, barely dressed… ring a bell yet?

The thing is, while none of this is new, it still has a certain shock value. Underage college kids drinking – what a big surprise. But it goes deeper than that. It’s the lack of integrity and common sense.

Think of this scenario: An employer interviews a potential employee, and their interest is piqued. They go to their computer, type in the interviewee’s name, and look what they discover!

It’s a picture of that interviewee with a bottle of vodka to their lips. They hit the next button and find a snapshot of the same person dancing on a table with an obviously bleary-eyed expression. The employer asks themselves if this is the same person who they just interviewed, and the answer is yes.

Generally this ends negatively for that applicant. Businesses do not want to hire those that seem unreliable. If someone doesn’t have the integrity to keep certain aspects of their personal life private, how can they be expected to uphold the integrity of a business? Overall, the photos are not reputable, not mature and do not recommend one to others.

As this trend of scanning gains more popularity in the job market, the legal system also starts to use it.

In a recent brief from Time Magazine, it is noted that police recently began to look at Facebook photos as evidence of underage drinking and other lawbreaking activity such as vandalism. This type of investigative work could be a new trend, and it’s a wonder it took them so long to use it when the photos are just waiting out there.

So why continue posting lewd behavior? It can result in losing a job or getting slapped with a fine. Plus they don’t really make attractive profile pictures.

Maybe the percent of the population that doesn’t do this just doesn’t see the allure of these photos.

No matter how it’s put, if you really have no shame in posting your latest escapades on the Internet for all to see, by all means you should go for it. Party on.

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