ACKNOWLEDGING the power of social media influencers, the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement (PSFM) yesterday called on content creators to shun the endorsement of vaping and electronic cigarette use.
Speaking at a media forum in Quezon City, PSFM youth leader Bea Lareza challenged social media influencers to be responsible by not promoting vaping.
“In the era of social media, we are calling on content creators and influencers to not promote vape or any other vices because there are a lot of young people watching and believing in you,” said Lareza.
“Don’t sacrifice the health of thousands of youths watching and believing what you’re saying. Be a good influence as the youth look up to you,” she added.
Lareza said it would not come as a surprise if the tobacco industry taps social media influencers to promote their products.
“We know that the tobacco industry is really strengthening its marketing strategy to trick the youth and get them addicted to nicotine,” she said.
Lareza also appealed to the youth to disregard the fake news being propagated by the tobacco industry regarding vaping.
“The tobacco industry is spreading the word that vapes are less harmful (than smoking).
This is fake news, a huge red flag of the industry tricking the youth in the name of profit,” she said.
She also told the youth that they shouldn’t fall for the flavors offered by vapes to entice them to try the product.
“These flavors and other marketing strategies only have one purpose, to trick the youth and make them their lifetime customers,” said Lareza.
The PSFM issued the appeal after expressing alarm over the growing number of youths engaged in vaping.
Based on the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), there is an increasing trend in vape use among the youth from 11.7 percent in 2015 to 24.6 percent in 2019.
Earlier, vape brands Shift and Chillax held the first-ever VapeFest in Pasig City attended by social media influencers.
