Multinational corporations will always advertise and promote their products to increase sales and profits. But when tobacco companies marketing nicotine products to children and youth rely on misleading science and data, their actions should be scrutinized and tightly regulated. Children and youth in emerging nations are especially at risk. The level of sophistication and resources attained by these well lawyered up firms like Phillip Morris far exceed those of many struggling third world nations.
Major tobacco companies now present themselves as champions of a “smoke‑free future,” yet they use targeted digital marketing, flavors, and youth‑friendly branding to compensate for declining cigarette sales—raising hard questions about whether they are really reducing harm or simply repackaging lifelong nicotine addiction.
These videos and articles illustrate how major tobacco companies employ deceptive and targeted marketing strategies to advertise harmful and addictive nicotine products to children and youth.
Is Vaping Worse Than Smoking?
AsapSCIENCE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0IYc-leYFg
This video breaks down the science behind the dangers of vaping and c-cigarettes to explain how and why they are not longer tools for quitting smoking. It explains that more than ever youth are vaping even though they never smoked cigarettes. It further explains how, in the interest of capitalism, major tobacco corporations are adding flavours to make youth and children want to consume more vaping products, thus making it harder to quit.
What Vaping Does to the Body.
Institute of Human Anatomy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaVaoja2Uk4&t=729s
This video explains how vaping products and e-cigarettes work and what are the associated problems. It explains that while many users end up in emergency rooms with Pneumonia-like symptoms, doctors cannot pinpoint any bacterial or viral cause. There have been links to certain ingredients in vaping products, but it is difficult to conclusively say which ingredients or how much of it causes symptoms, due to the lack of harmonious regulation and the varying composition from product to product. It further points out that while individuals may be able to recover from short term effects, the long-term effects are unknown.
The Rise And Fall of Juul | Rise and Fall.
Business Insider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkQ4WCAG38I
This Business Insider video explains how social and print media ads of the famous vaping giant, Juul, paint a very different picture in contrast to claims denying marketing vaping products to teens and youth. This video explains the details leading up to and the aftermath of the congressional hearing investigation into whether Juul actively marketed to youth and children. Some experts state that while Juul received scrutiny, the real issue is the market structure in place which allowed the company to earn USD$224 million in revenue from 2016-2017 and which continues to attract big investment to expand production domestically and internationally. Other experts blame the lack of action by the FDA in declaring youth vaping an epidemic and in regulating vaping products, particularly to children and youth.
What’s Inside Zyn Nicotine Pouches? We Tested Six Flavors. | WSJ
The Wall Street Journal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNpLRiduF8c
This video explains how Phillip Morris is able to hold 24.7% of market in the smokeless nicotine category through the acquisition of the Swedish manufacturer of Zyn nicotine pouches. It further explores the rise in popularity of Zyn among social media influencers and how Philip Morris and Zyn have benefited from the social media promotion.
Tobacco giant accused of ‘manipulating science’ to attract non-smokers.
The Guardian.
This article explains how Philip Morris has funded life science consultancy firms to promote their products at academic levels as a tool for smoking cessation. It is explained how through this promotion consumers, including children and youth, are mislead into the belief that, despite being a harmful and addictive product, their heated tobacco products are safe to use. Scientific researchers criticize Phillip Morris’ strategies as attempts to influence and manipulate science for profit. They argue that scientific research needs to be protected from vested corporate interests. The credibility of Phillip Morris’ claims about their intentions for a smoke free future is questioned in light of their broader pattern of deceptive tactics.
Propaganda Crusades by Philip Morris International & Altria: “Smoke-Free Future” & “Moving Beyond Smoke” Campaign
Exposing the Hyprcrisy of the Claim: “A Tobacco Company That Acutally Cares About Health”
This Standford University, School of Medicine, paper analyzes the tactics employed by Philip Morris in their public relations campaigns. The paper argues that the true intent of the programs to prevent youth smoking was really to prevent government intervention and minimize regulation in relation to their marketing and distribution of smoke free nicotine delivery systems. It is argued that the youth smoking issue had tarnished the corporate image and profitability of tobacco companies and rather than taking action to reduce youth smoking, tobacco companies launched multi-million-dollar public relations campaigns to sow distrust in the government and well-established scientific truths. The paper highlights the hypocrisy of Phillip Morris by pointing to the company’s promotion of a smoke free future which at the same time continuing to aggressively market cigarettes and opposing public health policies to reduce smoking.
Read the FAQ’s in the Read More Below
FAQ’S
H2: Tobacco Companies and Youth Marketing – FAQ
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H3: Are tobacco companies really marketing nicotine products to children and teens?
While tobacco firms deny targeting minors, investigations of their ads, flavors, influencer partnerships and product design show clear appeal to youth who never smoked cigarettes. -
H3: Why are vaping and e‑cigarettes so attractive to young people?
Sweet flavors, sleek devices, social‑media promotion and the myth that vaping is “just harmless water vapor” make these products especially tempting to teens and even younger children. -
H3: What are nicotine pouches like Zyn and why are they a concern?
Nicotine pouches are small, discreet products placed under the lip. They can deliver high doses of nicotine without smoke or vapor, making them easy to hide and highly addictive for young users. -
H3: How do tobacco companies use science and public relations in their marketing?
Documents and independent analyses show tobacco firms funding research, consulting firms and PR campaigns that frame their products as safer or helpful for quitting, while downplaying risks and opposing strong regulation. -
H3: What can parents and advocates do?
Learn how these products work, talk openly with kids about nicotine and marketing tactics, support stronger regulation and share trustworthy resources that counter tobacco industry messaging.
KIDS AT RISK ACTION / KARA / INVISIBLE CHILDREN
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