Tobacco Industry Social Media Marketing

This campaign from TakeAPart, an initiative of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, describes the deceptive strategies the tobacco industry uses on social media to promote their products and addict the next generation. The site outlines how tobacco giants including Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International and Imperial Brands evade tobacco advertising laws, government regulations and social media platforms’ policies: They continue to market cigarettes to young people by paying young, influential social media stars to share posts with their followers.

The site also includes background resources and offers, including the petition that leading public health and medical organizations have filed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission urging them to act against tobacco companies’ use of social media to advertise to young people.