Ask students or ask the students: Quando usar o artigo "the"

Hello!

I was writing a text and then a question came up to my mind.
I can't say which is the right structure and why. Can you help me?

Should I use:

Is it wrong to ask students about their personal lives?
or
Is it wrong to ask the students about their personal lives?

I'll ask students to bring a photo.
or
I'll ask the students to bring a photo.

Thanks in advance!