Frequent use of social media is linked to an increased risk of taking up smoking within a year among young people, according to a new study.
- A new study found that young people who never smoked and used social media daily were 67% more likely to start smoking after one year.
- 60% of adolescents were more likely to start using more than one tobacco product.
- Researchers are calling for better regulation of the promotion of tobacco and vaping on social networks.
More than 4 out of 10 young people spend between 3 and 5 hours a day on social networks, according to a investigation conducted by Diplomeo and BDM published in 2023. In view of these figures, the results of the latest study by researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health seem particularly alarming. The American team, in fact, discovered that young people who had never smoked and who used social media daily were 67% more likely to start smoking after one year.
Social networks: it increases the risk of smoking among teenagers
For this research, published in the next July issue ofAddictive Behaviors, scientists followed 8,672 young people who had never smoked before. 63.5% of them used social media daily and 3.3% liked or followed one or more tobacco brands on social media.
Analyzes showed that non-smoking adolescents who consulted Instagram, TikTok or even Snapchat daily were 67% more likely to use tobacco or vape after one year, compared to those who rarely used these platforms.
Additionally, young people who interacted directly with tobacco brands on these sites were 34% more likely to try it for the first time. Six in 10 were more likely to start using more than one tobacco product.
“Our findings add to a growing body of literature documenting the harms of social media use for this age group, as well as how commercial interests such as the tobacco industry target children on these platforms “explains study leader Dr Lynsie Ranker of Boston University School of Public Health.
Tobacco: we need to better regulate content on social networks
Recalling that smoking is a persistent public health problem, the researchers call for better regulation of the promotion of tobacco-related products on social networks.
“It’s no surprise that tobacco companies are targeting young people through social media”explains co-author Dr. Traci Hong in a communicated. “As state and national efforts to limit social media use among youth continue to evolve, we should also focus on regulating the promotion of tobacco products on networks, as well as education of our young people about the risks associated with tobacco consumption.”
His colleague, Dr Ziming Xuan, lead author of the study, adds: “At the individual level, it is essential to improve the way we measure exposure to social media content, as it is a key factor in determining subsequent risky behaviors among young people. At the societal level, we must continue our efforts to build a stronger evidence base on the most effective set of policies aimed at restricting tobacco content aimed at young people on social media.”
