Break The Tobacco Marketing Net

Internet

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  • The more tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship that young people see and hear, the more likely they are to become tobacco users.
  • Social networking and video sites popular with youth such as YouTube, MySpace and Facebook are filled with pro-tobacco messages.
  • Safeguards against kids buying cigarettes and seeing pro-smoking messages on the Internet are almost non-existent.
  • Tobacco marketing on the Internet can be targeted to websites that reach specific audiences such as teenagers without being seen by parents.
  • Internet users are rarely exposed to negative images of tobacco; they largely see it falsely associated with glamour, energy, sex appeal and adventure.
  • One of the most effective ways countries can protect the health of their people, especially youth, is to ban all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Links:
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/
http://www.smoke-fx.com/
http://ash.org.uk/

Lovato C, Linn G, Stead LF, Best A. Impact of tobacco advertising and promotion on increasing adolescent smoking behaviours. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003439. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003439. http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab003439.html.

Simon Chapman, University of Sydney. "Internet latest battle ground for smoking ads." Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC). Sept. 27, 2007.

Statement of Matthew Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, May 1, 2003

Tobacco product marketing on the Internet. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. June 26, 2003

WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2008: The MPOWER Package

References