How fast can you untag this?

Scandalous photos of drunk girls and the question “How fast can you untag this?” made the most capturing on-campus event flyer this week. Posted on bulletin boards in various academic buildings, the flyers promoted “Sloppy’s Never Sexy,” an event about the harmful effects of excessive drinking.

It is no longer only you and your college buddies who will know about your inappropriate behavior—now it is all your Facebook contacts who will see you acting like a fool. “Don’t Let Your Face Become Fair Game,” read another flyer from the series, emphasizing that your reputation is at stake on photo-sharing Web sites.

As immoderate alcohol consumption in college is a frequent phenomenon, student organizations ask young people to drink responsibly. The Network, one of my college’s largest student organizations, achieved this goal. It attracted long lines of students to its educational event by showing the effects of public humiliation and offering discounts to the largest on-campus party.

Naturally, there is a difference between promotion and incentives. While publicity aims to capture your attention, incentives actually call you to action. In this respect, the Network achieved both its goals. It used to its advantage people’s familiarity with social media and, in particular, obsession over Facebook pictures. But it also offered the student body perks to participate in the event.

Photo Credit: Bistrosavage