Introduction!

Hi all, welcome to my blog! For my research project, I will be analyzing trends of misinformation within the e-cigarette industry’s advertising. For context on my project, keep reading!

Electronic cigarettes were introduced to the US market in 2015, labeled as “smoking cessation” devices. They were supposedly less harmful than traditional cigarettes, contained less nicotine, and could ease people off of smoking. However, today we associate vapes more so with discreet youth substance use and early-age addictions. In fact, the CDC has declared youth e-cigarette use an epidemic in the US.

If you’re unsure of the health effects of e-cigarettes, know that that is the current normal within the scientific community as well. Not enough long-term studies have been able to effectively compare the effects of e-cigarettes to smoking. Thus, the FDA’s current stance on companies’ publicized statements of purported health is on the basis of their ability to provide evidence for their claims. In 2020, JUUL was banned from selling cartridge e-cigarettes because they advertised that their products could help adults quit smoking despite being responsible for a large part of youth addictions.

This disconnect in e-cigarette advertising is what I will be exploring throughout my project. I seek to understand how the vape industry as a whole may mislead customers through advertising while stating a mission to ease smoking addictions. Follow along as I share my findings and research methodology over the next few weeks! See you soon 🙂