Studies show that posting alcohol-related content on social media is associated with high rates of alcohol consumption, cravings, and alcohol addiction. A growing body of research also suggests that these messages may be powerful enough to influence a person’s drinking habits. Students who view their friends’ alcohol-infused posts are likely to drink more themselves and to post more alcohol-related content, which, in turn, causes others in their network to do the same. We can reverse these trends through education and effective conversations. Talk it Out NC Program Coordinator, Rodney Poole will take a look at the influence that social media messages have on underage drinking and the current trends that it appears to be driving. Rodney will also highlight ways adults can have effective conversations with young people to prevent unhealthy behavior.