Engagement With Online Tobacco Marketing Among Adolescents in the United States: 2013–2014 to 2014–2015

Introduction:
This text summarizes a study on engagement with online tobacco marketing among adolescents in the United States between 2013 and 2015. The study aimed to assess changes in engagement with online tobacco and electronic cigarette marketing among adolescents during this time period.

Key Points:

* The study used data from the Population Assessment for Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, Adolescent Sample, in Wave 1 (2013-2014) and Wave 2 (2014-2015).
* The study assessed engagement with six forms of online tobacco marketing, both overall and by brand.
* Engagement with at least one form of online tobacco marketing increased from 8.7% in 2013-2014 to 20.9% in 2014-2015.
* Brand-specific engagement increased over time for cigarette, cigar, and e-cigarette brands.
* Engagement with online tobacco marketing was positively associated with tobacco use initiation, increased frequency of tobacco use, and progression to polytobacco product use among prior tobacco users.
* The study suggests that stronger federal regulation of online tobacco marketing and tighter control of access to tobacco-related content by social media sites could reduce adolescents' exposure to and engagement with online tobacco marketing.

Main Message:
The study found that engagement with online tobacco marketing among adolescents approximately doubled between 2013 and 2015. This increase in engagement could represent public health harm if it results in increased initiation and use of tobacco products among youth. The study highlights the need for stronger federal regulation of online tobacco marketing and tighter control of access to tobacco-related content by social media sites in order to protect adolescents from the potential harms of tobacco marketing.

Soneji, Samir, JaeWon Yang, Meghan Bridgid Moran, Andy S L Tan, James Sargent, Kristin E Knutzen, and Kelvin Choi. “Engagement With Online Tobacco Marketing Among Adolescents in the United States: 2013–2014 to 2014–2015.” Nicotine & Tobacco Research 21, no. 7 (June 21, 2019): 918–25. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/nty086.