Facebook and Twitter have become commonplace for dating, connecting, and socializing. Most recently, studies have shown an increase in college aged drinking, especially among male students. Social media has profoundly changed how we communicate, and it is now helping behavioral researchers identify at-risk and maladaptive behaviors by monitoring post content.

A recent study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests that Facebook posts may send signals of at-risk intoxication and/or alcohol abuse. According to a TIME article, “The study focused on college students, nearly 1,700 of whom die each year as a result of alcohol-related overdoses, injuries or car accidents. Because college students don’t regularly go to the doctor, alcohol abuse isn’t often picked up through the health-care system. In the absence of clinical data, though, sites like Facebook might offer a clue about whether a person’s drinking is harmful.” The lead researcher of the study, Megan Moreno says, “Social media gives us a new way to look at behaviors that are tough to identify on the surface.