Photos depicting students with illegal substances have recently surfaced on social networking websites, such as Facebook. It is time people start being more careful of what they post.

Posting a picture of yourself holding a blue can of Bud Light or other alcoholic beverages is pleading guilty to underage drinking.

While our school administrators and police may not peruse Facebook for images of a student’s weekend debauchery, this does not change the fact that posting these pictures is a bad idea.

Photographing illegal activity can potentially lead to legal trouble. These photos, complete with tags indicating the incriminated individuals, would make great evidence in a courtroom.

Either now or in the next few years, most students will apply to college. According to the Huffington Post, a Kaplan survey showed that 80 percent of college admissions officers use Facebook to glean additional information about candidates.

These admissions officers should find responsible, mature individuals who have strong privacy settings and exercise good judgement when they post online. Colleges are not looking to see who can hold their own after six Solo cups of beer.

One day in the future, our students will go on to apply for jobs. They should not be surprised if an interviewer asks about a photo found online.

Employers are increasingly using Facebook and other social media to check on job applicants. Social Intelligence Corp. is a new company that offers employers social media background checks and monitoring services.

Their CEO, Max Drucker, told the New York Times, “All we assemble is what is publicly available on the Internet today.”

Things do not disappear from the Internet. Even if you delete something from Facebook, for example, it is not guaranteed to disappear from Google. With the addition of Facebook Timeline, people can quickly see your entire page history in a way that was previously not as accessible.

Also, Facebook owns the rights to anything posted to its website. So, private or not, the possibility of employers accessing old images remains possible.

The cultural landscape may look very different in 30 years when Facebook owns images that police officers, teachers, business executives and political candidates are not particularly proud of.

While choosing to post an image online, especially one of your weekend adventures, may seem like a good way to look cool and sophisticated, it is shortsighted and naive.

Since high school is defined by growing closer to adulthood, we must maintain a long term outlook. Think years down the road and exercise good judgement when posting pictures to Facebook.

At least turn on profile review.