TikTok, in recent years, has dominated the world of social media by pushing creative boundaries, spreading good vibes, and entertaining us during those idle moments in the grocery store checkout line. But beyond hot takes and get ready with me videos, the social media platform is also bringing millions of young people together to help them quit vaping nicotine for good.
A whole corner of TikTok is currently devoted to helping young people quit their nicotine addiction. Loads of influencers and regular people from all over the world are posting about their real-life quitting experiences, inspiring others who are thinking about quitting to do it, and supporting people who are already on their quitting journey to stay on it.
Considering that more than 2.5 million middle and high school students(opens in a new tab) reported current e-cigarette use in 2022, leading the CDC to call youth vaping a serious public health threat, this is positive news. A Truth Initiative(opens in a new tab) survey also found that more than half of middle and high schoolers who have used e-cigarettes want to quit. Anyone who’s ever been addicted to nicotine knows firsthand that quitting can be hard, and this is exactly why young people are flocking to TikTok and other digital peer-to-peer communities for help.
TikTok is spreading the #quittingvaping vibes
On TikTok, @Marissaarivv(opens in a new tab), @kelly.lately(opens in a new tab), and @eli(opens in a new tab) are just a few of the young people who are candidly sharing their quitting stories, along with all the ups and downs that come along with it. TikTok’s #quitvaping(opens in a new tab) hashtag has over 806 million views and tags like #quittingvaping(opens in a new tab) and #quittingnicotine(opens in a new tab) have tens of millions more views. Millions of people are using the hashtags and TikTok’s algorithm to find others like them who want to quit their nicotine addictions, and they’re sharing their IRL stories and advice.
The tobacco industry wants you to believe that vaping nicotine can alleviate feelings of stress, but in fact, the opposite may be true(opens in a new tab). Research has shown that vaping nicotine can amplify feelings of depression and anxiety(opens in a new tab) and increase stress levels, bringing the importance of online support into clear focus.
truth is helping young people ditch their vapes via texting
This is Quitting(opens in a new tab) from truth(opens in a new tab) is a free and anonymous text message e-cigarette quit program that’s helping hundreds of thousands of young people, including TikTok’s @eli(opens in a new tab), quit and stay quit. This is Quitting was created specifically for youth and young adults, and it’s already been used by more than 600,000 young people. It’s a non-judgmental way for young e-cigarette users to give and get tips, motivation, and support from each other throughout the quitting journey. A randomized clinical trial(opens in a new tab) found that young adults aged 18-24 who used This is Quitting had nearly 40 percent higher odds of quitting compared to a control group, which is impressive. It’s easy and free to join(opens in a new tab), just text DITCHVAPE to 88709.
Posting (and just lurking) online can help you quit and stay quit
We get it — quitting is hard, and the idea of going public about quitting can seem nightmarish. But having support from others is proven(opens in a new tab) to help those looking to quit start and stick with quitting vaping (or smoking or chewing nicotine). And the great news is that support can come from anywhere — friends, family, coworkers, teachers, coaches…or even complete strangers on TikTok.
Having support from others — including people who comment on or like your social media posts about quitting — can help you feel less lonely and reassure you when quitting gets tough. Studies(opens in a new tab) have even shown that just reading what other people have posted in online communities can lead to better quitting outcomes. Reading what others are saying can reinforce that you’re not alone in quitting, and find tips about how to cope with cravings or hard times.
Along with This is Quitting(opens in a new tab) from truth, young people on TikTok and other online communities are sharing their real-life quitting stories and inspiring others to do the same. All you need to do is search the hashtag and you’ll see that you’re not alone in quitting.
