"For today's young people, online content isn't a backdrop to daily life-it is daily life. Streaming platforms, short-form video, and social media don't just entertain; they influence how young people see themselves, their health, and what behaviors are seen as normal or aspirational. Movies, television, and streaming content still have influence, but as the digital ecosystem expands, so does its power to shape choices-for better and for worse."
"And nearly 17 million young people were exposed to tobacco imagery through popular streaming shows just in 2023. This imagery isn't without consequence. It can triple a young person's likelihood of starting to vape and make it harder for those already addicted to nicotine to quit successfully. Often dubbed the "JUUL Generation," e-cigarette use is greatest among 18-24 year-olds. For Gen Z, the stakes are high, with one in five now risking long-term addiction."
Online content functions as daily life for young people, shaping self-image, health perceptions, and behavioral norms. Streaming platforms, short-form video, and social media amplify portrayals that normalize or glamorize risky behavior. More than half of top films in 2024 include tobacco imagery, and nearly 17 million young people saw tobacco imagery in popular streaming shows in 2023. Glamourized smoking imagery can triple a young person's likelihood of starting to vape and can make quitting nicotine harder for those already addicted. E-cigarette use peaks among 18–24-year-olds, with one in five Gen Z individuals at risk of long-term addiction. Algorithms, full-season releases, and viral clips extend exposure and sustain influence.
Read at Fast Company
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