Social media posts may make teens more susceptible to vaping, new Stanford research has shown. The finding, published recently in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, comes from the first study to use a cause-and-effect design to test how social media posts can influence teens' interest in vaping and e-cigarettes. After teens viewed Instagram-style posts, some of which promoted vaping, the researchers asked about their intentions to vape.
Does too much social media make teens vape more?
Spending more time on social media may make vaping seem more normal. However, it is also possible that other factors, such as struggling with depression, may make teens more vulnerable to both excessive social media use and to willingness to try nicotine.
Why is vaping and e-cigarettes promoted on social media?
Yet vaping and e-cigarettes are widely promoted on social media by the industry and influencers, using advertising tactics that were outlawed for tobacco in Australia in the 1980s for traditional media. This blatant promotion is not tolerated offline, so why is it happening on social media? Twitter image.
Are teens more likely to try e-cigarettes because of social media?
However, it is also possible that other factors, such as struggling with depression, may make teens more vulnerable to both excessive social media use and to willingness to try nicotine. The researchers hope the findings will lead to tighter regulation of how e-cigarettes can be promoted to youth.
Why do teens like vaping?
A lot of teens like vaping because they are attracted to the high tech look and feel of the vapes. Devices like those made by Juul and Pax Era look like flash drives, and children who use them might think that they are on the cutting edge.
Do social media posts encourage vaping?
Is vaping legal on social media?
Can e-cigarettes be promoted to youth?
Is the difference between groups statistically significant?
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The Influence of Social Media on Teen Use of E-Cigarettes
E-cigarette use—or vaping—among youth is on a dramatic rise. In just one year, from 2017 to 2018, e-cigarette use rose by 78% among high school students.
The influence of social media on teen use of e-cigarettes
E-cigarette use – or “vaping” – among youth is on a dramatic rise. In just one year, from 2017 to 2018, e-cigarette use rose by 78% among high school students [1].
Association Between Social Media Use and Vaping Among Florida ...
Juhan Lee, PhD 1; Andy SL Tan, PhD, MPH, MBA 2,3; Lauren Porter, PhD 4; Kelly C Young-Wolff, PhD, MPH 5; Lisa Carter-Harris, PhD 6; Ramzi G Salloum, PhD 7 (View author affiliations). Suggested citation for this article: Lee J, Tan AS, Porter L, Young-Wolff KC, Carter-Harris L, Salloum RG. Association Between Social Media Use and Vaping Among Florida Adolescents, 2019.
Vaping is glamourised on social media, putting youth in harm's way
Vape juice advertising on TikTok. But on social media, where “influencer” content is king, the boundaries between truly organic content and paid product placements is blurred.. In 2012 ...
Why do teens vape?
In fact, one of the most common reasons teens say they vape is the flavors. [3] There is an increased presence of e-cigarette companies on social media – most notably, by JUUL. This has led to some researchers to suggest that higher youth vaping rates are, at least in part, attributable to social media branding and marketing [8, 9].
Is e-cigarettes good for you?
Health Impacts of E-Cigarettes. E-cigarettes are sometimes described as a healthy alternative to traditional cigarettes [5]. They nonethe less are associated with similar health impacts as traditional cigarettes. Indeed, the Surgeon General suggests that both nicotine addiction and negative impacts on brain development could be linked to vaping [6].
Is social media good for vaping?
There are many benefits of social media, including increased social support, self-expression, and self-exploration. At the same time, unregulated advertising of e-cigarettes to youth through social media and advertising campaigns elsewhere can lead to the glamorization of vaping among young people; and this could lead to their use.
How does social media influence e-cigarette use?
Besides serving as a platform for e-cigarette advertisements, social media sites facilitate information sharing about e-cigarettes with images of their use among adolescents (7). As such, social media platforms provide opportunities for adolescents to acquire new information about e-cigarette use and behavior (8,9). For example, social media platforms such as YouTube provide tutorials with basic information about how to use e-cigarettes and vaping products (10). Furthermore, seeing peers or influencers (11) use e-cigarettes on social media may promote the perception among adolescents that e-cigarette use is a socially accepted behavior (12). Exposure to e-cigarette–related content on social media, therefore, might be associated with susceptibility to e-cigarette use among adolescents.
Why is it important to monitor e-cigarette companies?
Developing strategies to monitor e-cigarette companies’ marketing activities and e-cigarette–related content on social media, therefore, is as important as developing counter campaigns on social media to prevent vaping among adolescents.
What is Snapchat used for?
For example, Snapchat is used for peer-to-peer messaging and sharing of pictures for a short period, and the messages and pictures subsequently disappear. Snapchat includes “stories” and “discover” features, a collection of “snaps” lasting 24 hours between users and users’ network.
What is the FYTS survey?
We analyzed data from the 2019 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS), an annual cross-sectional statewide, school-based survey that uses a multistage stratified sample design representative of middle and high school students in Florida (N = 10, 776) (18). Weighted response rates were 71.6% for middle school students and 68.6% for high school students. We included respondents who reported e-cigarette use (vaping) status in the analytic sample (n = 10,475).
How many times a day is h?
h Daily includes once per day or several times per day.
Is vaping ever used?
We categorized products as 1) never vaped, 2) experimentally used, but not currently (ever vaped), and 3) currently vaping. Ever vaped was defined as vaping product ever used, but not in the past 30 days, and currently vaping was defined as vaping product ever vaped and used at least 1 day in the past 30 days.
How often is f included in a diet?
f Included once per day and several times per day.
How old do you have to be to sell tobacco?
Any brand that posts content related to the sale or transfer of these products must restrict it to adults 18 years or older. Whether this is even possible on social media is still open to question.
Is vaping a recreational activity?
Yet e-cigarettes are touted online as a harmless recreational activity. Vape juice (which may or may not contain nicotine) is available in flavours such as gummy bear, chocolate treat and cherry crush, while social media influencers demonstrate fun vaping tricks or ways to customise e-cigarette devices. There are even online vaping communities offering social support and connectedness.
Does Australia ban vaping?
But that legislation doesn’t ban online sales of tobacco products, including vaping products, and can do very little about advertisements from overseas websites.
Can you advertise tobacco products?
Ad creatives and landing page must not display or promote tobacco, tobacco-related products such as cigars, tobacco pipes, rolling papers, or e-cigarettes.
Does Twitter allow paid advertising?
Twitter’s policy on paid advertising “prohibits the promotion of tobacco products, accessories and brands globally”. But this does not extend to the content of individual accounts.
Is e-cigarettes safe for adolescents?
Despite the dangers of e-cigarettes, many adolescents have positive opinions about them. Surveys have revealed young people consider e-cigarettes to be a healthier and less addictive alternative to cigarettes, with fewer harmful chemicals and fewer health risks from second-hand vapour.
Does Curtin University have funding?
Curtin University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.
Why is NIDA important?
To address the increase in youth vaping, NIDA is leading the charge toward prevention efforts, understanding why youth vape and how vaping nicotine or marijuana may lead to addiction. NIDA is also supporting studies aimed at uncovering the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes in both teens and adults; the types of vape devices people use;
What is the purpose of e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes. E-hookahs. Mods. Vaporizer devices all have the same purpose: to heat liquids containing nicotine or marijuana that people can inhale or puff. Vapes and e-liquids have often been touted as fun, fruit-flavored, and safe. But research shows a much different picture.
What are the colors of vapes?
For instance, vapes come in colors that match the fruity flavors they contain, such as blue for blueberry and green for mint.
How many high school seniors use nicotine?
One out of four high school seniors reported past-month nicotine use, according to a recent survey funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Also concerning is the near doubling of high school seniors reporting past-month marijuana vaping, from 7.5% in 2018 to 14% in 2019.
Do teens vape more than teens who don't?
Studies show that over 30% of teens who vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes than teens who don't vape. In addition, twice as many boys use vapes than girls. And teens and their parents may not realize that vaping nicotine or marijuana can change the way the brain works and how it develops, now and in the future.
Is vaping a common way for teens?
The results so far are concerning. Vaping devices are now the most common way for youth in the U.S. to use nicotine. "The vaping studies have worried us enormously," says NIDA Director Nora Volkow, M.D.
Is e-cigarettes better for teens?
Dr. Popova says that many teens, like adults, think e-cigarettes are better for their health than traditional cigarettes.
Why do teens vape?
In fact, one of the most common reasons teens say they vape is the flavors. There is an increased presence of e-cigarette companies on social media —most notably, by JUUL. This has led some researchers to suggest that higher youth vaping rates are, at least in part, attributable to social media branding and marketing.
What is the most popular e-cigarette company?
One of the most popular e-cigarette companies is JUUL.
Is social media good for vaping?
There are many benefits of social media, including increased social support, self-expression, and self-exploration. At the same time, unregulated advertising of e-cigarettes to youth through social media and advertising campaigns elsewhere can lead to the glamorization of vaping among young people; and this could lead to their use. With more research and regulation, there is hope that e-cigarette companies will move away from appealing to youth consumers and youth will be less inclined to try vaping. In the meantime, we need to talk to our kids about the health effects of vaping to counteract their currently ‘cool and healthy’ mystique.
Is e-cigarettes good for you?
E-cigarettes are sometimes described as a healthy alternative to traditional cigarettes. They nonetheless are associated with similar health impacts as traditional cigarettes. Indeed, the Surgeon General suggests that both nicotine addictionand negative impacts on brain development could be linked to vaping.
Why Are So Many Teens Vaping?
There are many reasons why vaping is on the rise among teenagers. A lot of teens like vaping because they are attracted to the high tech look and feel of the vapes.
How many cigarettes are in a Juul pod?
In fact, the amount of nicotine in some Juul pods can be the equivalent of 20 cigarettes. A nicotine addiction could also result in vaping teens using tobacco. In 2018, the National Academy of Medicine reported that vaping could increase the chances of someone starting smoking.
What is the CDC recommendation for vaping?
The first thing they say is that parents should be tobacco and vape free themselves. Choosing not to smoke or vape will set a good example.
How to educate teens about vaping?
How to Educate Teens on Vaping. The best way to educate teens about vaping is to tell them about the risks associated with it. Some teenagers do not know that vaping could cause damage to their health, so making them aware of this fact could convince them to quit.
What happens if you spot a student vaping?
Failure to do so is a violation of many school policies, and ignoring vaping could result in being fired.
How do teens overcome nicotine addiction?
Teenagers can overcome their addictions to nicotine through willpower and assistance from supportive family and friends.
How to approach a teen who is vaping?
The best and most effective way to approach teens vaping is not to be confrontational. Calmly approach them and speak to them in a regular voice. Do not yell at them or strike them. Doing this will put the child on the defensive and make them more confrontational.
Why is vaping so popular?
And it seems that e-cigarettes are the reason. In fact, vaping gained such an impressive popularity among former smokers because it helped them to quit tobacco.
What are some weird flavors of e-juice?
Other weird e-juice flavors available on the market taste like Red Bull, beer, bacon, crab legs, butter, espresso, Hot Dog, etc. Thanks to science, vape enthusiasts can experiment endlessly with the most bizarre juices.
Is vaping cheaper than cigarettes?
In addition to the apparent reduction in health risks, vaping comes with a price advantage. Vape liquid is usually cheaper than cigarettes.
Is vaping on social media?
There is an abundance of vaping messages on social media. And it has been growing every year. They can influence buying choices.
Is vaping a lifestyle?
In contrary to desperate struggling smokers who choose it as an alternative to smoking, most teenagers choose it as a lifestyle.
Is vaping safe?
Vaping is the new cool. It developed its own culture with its competitions, lounges, games and tricks. And since there are no scientifically proven facts that vaping cannot be safer than traditional smoking, the predictions for the culture are optimistic.
Is vaping legal for young people?
Vaping is attractive for young generations for many reasons. When e-cigarettes began to gain popularity, they were legal for young people. They implied a minimum level of danger, something youth knew they shouldn’t do but that seemed not as harmful as a regular cigarette.
What If Your Adolescent Contracts a Vaping Illness?
A recent string of vaping illnesses across the country have been strongly linked to vitamin E acetate, an additive often found in illicit vape cartridges. The CDC has reported 2,602 cases and as many as 57 deaths. If you believe your child has been injured from vaping, contact the mass tort lawyer from Dunken Law Firm, as you may be eligible for compensation from the product’s manufacturer. Have your case evaluated for free today, by calling (713) 554-6780 or reaching us online.
What is the effect of nicotine on adolescents?
Nicotine addiction may cause an adolescent to exhibit other risky behaviors or make otherwise unsound decisions.
What to do if your child is injured from vaping?
If you believe your child has been injured from vaping, contact the mass tort lawyer from Dunken Law Firm, as you may be eligible for compensation from the product’s manufacturer. Have your case evaluated for free today, by calling (713) 554-6780 or reaching us online.
What are the negative effects of vaping?
Vaping can often lead to problems with decision making, memory, impulse regulation, emotional control, and addiction.
What does missing money mean?
Missing Money: Disappearing from your wallet or home.
Is vaping a health risk for teens?
Many teens are under the incorrect assumption that an e-cigarette or vape pen is not a health risk since it is not a traditional cigarette. Though studies on the long-term effects of vaping are ongoing, there are well-known dangers associated with nicotine use.
How many high school students vape?
It is estimated that more than one in four high school students vape, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That translates to 27.5 percent of students in 2019, an alarming increase from 11.7 percent in 2017.
Do social media posts encourage vaping?
Social media posts promoting e-cigarettes appear able to make teens more willing to vape, new Stanford research has shown.
Is vaping legal on social media?
Advertising of combustible cigarettes is prohibited by law in traditional media outlets such as magazines, newspapers and television. But vaping-related posts on social media are largely unregulated, with individual platforms making different decisions about what to allow.
Can e-cigarettes be promoted to youth?
The researchers hope the findings will lead to tighter regulation of how e-cigarettes can be promoted to youth. "Social media platforms need to do more to close the loopholes in their policies that allow influencers to promote tobacco products," Vogel said.
Is the difference between groups statistically significant?
Although the effects were modest in size, the differences between groups were statistically significant.
Abstract
- Introduction With the growing popularity of vaping, evidence has emerged about the association between social media use and vaping among adolescents, possibly because of the proliferation of e-cigarette advertisements and other related content on social media. Our study examined the association between social media use and vaping among adolescents....
Introduction
- With the growing popularity of vaping (1), evidence has emerged about the association between social media use and adolescent vaping (2). This association may be attributed to the proliferation of e-cigarette advertisements and other related content on social media (3). Advertisements on social media may pose particular risks because of high levels of social medi…
Methods
- We analyzed data from the 2019 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS), an annual cross-sectional statewide, school-based survey that uses a multistage stratified sample design representative of middle and high school students in Florida (N = 10,776) (18). Weighted response rates were 71.6% for middle school students and 68.6% for high school students. We included respondents who r…
Results
- The analytic sample (n = 10,475) was composed mostly of high school students (56.9%, weighted); 50.4% were male, 38.8% were non-Hispanic White, and 33.5% were Hispanic. Of current e-cigarette users, 71.6% were current cigarette smokers, 73.2% were current other tobacco product users, 26.3% reported family members using tobacco products, and 24.8% of adolescen…
Discussion
- This study highlights the potential influence of Snapchat (daily and nondaily use), Instagram (daily use), Facebook (nondaily use), and Twitter use (nondaily use) on experimental and current vaping among adolescents in Florida. This association may be explained by the recent increase in popularity of social media platforms among adolescents (17) and the potential exposure to e-ci…
Acknowledgments
- This study was supported by the Florida Department of Health, grant #9JK05. Florida Youth Survey Data used in this study were collected by the Florida Department of Health. The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Florida Department of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The authors de…
Author Information
- Corresponding Author: Juhan Lee PhD, 1864 Stadium Rd, FLG 17C, Gainesville, FL 32608. Telephone: 352-284-1818. Email: juhan.j.lee@ufl.edu. Author Affiliations: 1Department of Health Education and Behavior, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. 2Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadel…
References
- Zeller M. Youth e-cigarette use and the food and drug administration’s multifaceted approach. Am J Public Health 2020;110(6):772–3. CrossRefexternal icon PubMedexternal icon
- Dormanesh A, Kirkpatrick MG, Allem JP. Content analysis of instagram posts from 2019 with cartoon-based marketing of e-cigarette–associated products. JAMA Pediatr 2020;174(11):1110–2. CrossRefexter...
- Zeller M. Youth e-cigarette use and the food and drug administration’s multifaceted approach. Am J Public Health 2020;110(6):772–3. CrossRefexternal icon PubMedexternal icon
- Dormanesh A, Kirkpatrick MG, Allem JP. Content analysis of instagram posts from 2019 with cartoon-based marketing of e-cigarette–associated products. JAMA Pediatr 2020;174(11):1110–2. CrossRefexter...
- Amin S, Dunn AG, Laranjo L. Social influence in the uptake and use of electronic cigarettes: a systematic review. Am J Prev Med 2020;58(1):129–41. CrossRefexternal icon PubMedexternal icon
- Marynak K, Gentzke A, Wang TW, Neff L, King BA. Exposure to electronic cigarette advertising among middle and high school students — United States, 2014–2016. MMWR Morb Mortal …
Tables
- a Accounted for complex sampling design of Taylor series linearization as variance estimation. b Vaped, but not vaped in the past 30 days. c Vaped in the past 30 days. d Estimated using Rao-Scott adjusted χ2 test. e Included every few months, every few weeks, 1–2 days/week, and 3–5 days/week. f Included once per day and several times per day. g Assessed using the question, D…