#Nicotineaddiction on TikTok: A quantitative content analysis of top-viewed posts
Introduction TikTok, the video-sharing app popular among youth, is a source of user-generated content about nicotine addiction with the potential to endorse or deter nicotine use among young viewers. We systematically analyzed content and themes of TikTok posts tagged #nicotineaddiction. Methods We...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
European Publishing
2022-08-01
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Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/-Nicotineaddiction-on-TikTok-A-quantitative-content-analysis-of-top-viewed-posts,151868,0,2.html |
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author | Kristy L. Marynak Meagan O. Robichaud Tyler Puryear Ryan D. Kennedy Meghan B. Moran |
author_facet | Kristy L. Marynak Meagan O. Robichaud Tyler Puryear Ryan D. Kennedy Meghan B. Moran |
author_sort | Kristy L. Marynak |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Introduction
TikTok, the video-sharing app popular among youth, is a source of
user-generated content about nicotine addiction with the potential to endorse or
deter nicotine use among young viewers. We systematically analyzed content and
themes of TikTok posts tagged #nicotineaddiction.
Methods
We conducted a quantitative content analysis of the visual and textual content
of the 149 top-viewed English-language TikTok posts tagged #nicotineaddiction
as of 1 March 2021. Posts were double-coded using a shared codebook, noting
content creator characteristics, nicotine products featured, references to quitting,
and overall themes of #nicotineaddiction expressed. We assessed the prevalence
of post characteristics and themes overall and by apparent age of content creators
(aged ≥21 years versus <21 years).
Results
The 149 posts analyzed received a mean and median of 62433 and 15800
likes, respectively. E-cigarettes were referenced or featured in 75% of posts;
58% featured a specific nicotine product brand, most commonly Puff Bar (23%
of total) and JUUL (19%). Overall, 22% of posts mentioned quitting nicotine.
The top themes of #nicotineaddiction expressed were physical or psychological
consequences (e.g. withdrawal symptoms, 46%), physical or psychological benefits
(e.g. tasting good, feeling ‘buzzed’, 28%), and social benefits (e.g. bonding
with fellow users, 28%). Compared to those aged ≥21 years, posts by content
creators likely <21 years (26%) less commonly mentioned quitting (p<0.01), had
fewer followers (p<0.01), were more commonly from Canada (p<0.01) and less
commonly from the US (p<0.01), and more commonly featured JUUL (p<0.05).
Conclusions
While reaching a large and engaged audience, TikTok content creators
suggest a range of benefits and consequences of nicotine addiction. Future research
is warranted to examine this content’s potential to influence young people’s
intentions to use or quit nicotine products. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:46:22Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-64345193ccad4d1cb3a9bd3b5d2f2aa5 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1617-9625 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:46:22Z |
publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
publisher | European Publishing |
record_format | Article |
series | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
spelling | doaj.art-64345193ccad4d1cb3a9bd3b5d2f2aa52022-12-22T04:30:57ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252022-08-0120August1910.18332/tid/151868151868#Nicotineaddiction on TikTok: A quantitative content analysis of top-viewed postsKristy L. Marynak0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3385-6468Meagan O. Robichaud1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5488-7899Tyler Puryear2Ryan D. Kennedy3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9448-5234Meghan B. Moran4Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United StatesDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United StatesDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United StatesDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United StatesDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United StatesIntroduction TikTok, the video-sharing app popular among youth, is a source of user-generated content about nicotine addiction with the potential to endorse or deter nicotine use among young viewers. We systematically analyzed content and themes of TikTok posts tagged #nicotineaddiction. Methods We conducted a quantitative content analysis of the visual and textual content of the 149 top-viewed English-language TikTok posts tagged #nicotineaddiction as of 1 March 2021. Posts were double-coded using a shared codebook, noting content creator characteristics, nicotine products featured, references to quitting, and overall themes of #nicotineaddiction expressed. We assessed the prevalence of post characteristics and themes overall and by apparent age of content creators (aged ≥21 years versus <21 years). Results The 149 posts analyzed received a mean and median of 62433 and 15800 likes, respectively. E-cigarettes were referenced or featured in 75% of posts; 58% featured a specific nicotine product brand, most commonly Puff Bar (23% of total) and JUUL (19%). Overall, 22% of posts mentioned quitting nicotine. The top themes of #nicotineaddiction expressed were physical or psychological consequences (e.g. withdrawal symptoms, 46%), physical or psychological benefits (e.g. tasting good, feeling ‘buzzed’, 28%), and social benefits (e.g. bonding with fellow users, 28%). Compared to those aged ≥21 years, posts by content creators likely <21 years (26%) less commonly mentioned quitting (p<0.01), had fewer followers (p<0.01), were more commonly from Canada (p<0.01) and less commonly from the US (p<0.01), and more commonly featured JUUL (p<0.05). Conclusions While reaching a large and engaged audience, TikTok content creators suggest a range of benefits and consequences of nicotine addiction. Future research is warranted to examine this content’s potential to influence young people’s intentions to use or quit nicotine products.http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/-Nicotineaddiction-on-TikTok-A-quantitative-content-analysis-of-top-viewed-posts,151868,0,2.htmlsocial medianicotine addictione-cigarettes |
spellingShingle | Kristy L. Marynak Meagan O. Robichaud Tyler Puryear Ryan D. Kennedy Meghan B. Moran #Nicotineaddiction on TikTok: A quantitative content analysis of top-viewed posts Tobacco Induced Diseases social media nicotine addiction e-cigarettes |
title | #Nicotineaddiction on TikTok: A quantitative content analysis of top-viewed posts |
title_full | #Nicotineaddiction on TikTok: A quantitative content analysis of top-viewed posts |
title_fullStr | #Nicotineaddiction on TikTok: A quantitative content analysis of top-viewed posts |
title_full_unstemmed | #Nicotineaddiction on TikTok: A quantitative content analysis of top-viewed posts |
title_short | #Nicotineaddiction on TikTok: A quantitative content analysis of top-viewed posts |
title_sort | nicotineaddiction on tiktok a quantitative content analysis of top viewed posts |
topic | social media nicotine addiction e-cigarettes |
url | http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/-Nicotineaddiction-on-TikTok-A-quantitative-content-analysis-of-top-viewed-posts,151868,0,2.html |
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