The exact origins of the popular phrase YOLO (“You Only Live Once”) are unknown, but it was because of the rapper Drake, in his song ‘The Motto’ that YOLO got the popularity that it did since late November 2011. Since then, YOLO has blown up all over Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, becoming the most popular phrase used by teenagers especially.

Now, YOLO is the most used excuse to justify one’s actions. Dancing like a maniac in public? YOLO. Cutting the lunch line at school? Hey, YOLO. Forgot to do your homework? YOLO! You only live once, right?

But where does the line between recklessness and fun exist? It seems as if this newfound excuse, “you only live once,” has blurred the line between what is purely fun and what is reckless.

Junior Kristine Purdy said, “I’ve heard YOLO used to justify everything: bad grades, going to places with friends, eating something, etc. It’s used for EVERYTHING.”

The YOLO excuse has been used so many times for so many scenarios that accountability for one’s actions has completely flown out the window. It’s true, there may be one life to live, but responsibility still needs to be taken for what one does in his or her life.

YOLO is especially popular amongst teenagers. The thing is, teenagers want to be treated as adults, but don’t adults have to take responsibility for their actions? That’s the first step to surviving in the “real world.” While some students, like sophomore Tori Stratis say “YOLO doesn’t justify your actions at all,” some upperclassmen beg to differ.

Senior Kyle Fryman doesn’t think that YOLO is causing people to be more reckless but he said, “I do, however, feel that more people are using it to justify doing illegal or dangerous things that they would have done anyway had YOLO not come about.”

In fact, he said that unfortunately, “many people upload pictures on Facebook with pictures of them doing illegal or dangerous things with the caption ‘YOLO’.”

While YOLO may not be provoking people to do reckless (or even illegal) things, it has definitely become the copout for dealing with the consequences when faced with them.

It’s perfectly okay to have fun if one holds the belief that there’s only one life to live, but let’s keep in mind that just like there’s a thin line between love and hate, there is a thin line between pure fun and sheer recklessness.

Choose wisely because today’s “fun” can bring on tomorrow’s major consequences.