Influencers called up to boost anti-vaping message to Aussie teens

Popular Australian influencers have been recruited to create social media content about the harms of nicotine vapes in an effort to curb soaring rates of addiction among teens.

Popular Australian influencers have been recruited to create social media content about the harms of nicotine vapes in an effort to curb soaring rates of addiction among teens.

Sports stars, gamers and comedians will urge their millions of young followers to seek help to quit vaping and educate them about the health and environmental dangers, as part of a new awareness campaign funded by the federal government.

Social media is currently flooded with pro-vaping content, with more than 18 billion posts on TikTok using the hashtag #vape, and more than 18,000 ‘vaping influencer’ profiles on Instagram dedicated to promoting e-cigarette smoking.

An estimated one in six Australian high school students are vaping, while illegal vapes have become the top behavioural issue in classrooms.

Health Minister Mark Butler said education was key to stopping big tobacco companies from “luring” a new generation into nicotine dependency.

Health Minister Mark Butler has recruited social media influencers to take part in an anti-vaping awareness campaign. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“It’s pretty clear that teenagers don’t watch TV or listen to Health Ministers, much as I might like them to, which is why we’ve partnered with influencers that young people listen to: from comedians, to sport stars and gamers, and everyone in between,” he said.

Brothers Jaxon and Lachlan Fairbairn have joined the anti-vaping campaign. Picture: Instagram

Comedy duo the Fairbairn brothers, who have more than 1.7m followers on YouTube and almost 3m on TikTok, are among the influencers taking part in the campaign.

Lachlan Fairbairn said he and his brother Jaxon were “really keen” to support an anti-vaping message through their channels to help young Australians better understand the risks of vaping.

“We know that a lot of our peers vape, so it’s important to us that we support a campaign that will educate people on the harms of vaping and help them seek support if they want it,” he said.

Cricketer Ellyse Perry will reach out to her followers to encourage them to stop vaping. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Cricket Ellyse Perry, who has more than 1.3m followers on Instagram, said she was “excited” to be lending her voice to a critical health issue.

“As a professional athlete, I know that even occasional vape use would have significant consequences for both mental and physical performance on and off the field,” he said.

Surfing sisters Zahlia and Shyla Short say vaping harms the environment as well as people’s health. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Junior professional surfers Zahlia and Shyla Short, who have than 140,000 followers on TikTok and 100,000 on Instagram combined, will also be backing the campaign.

“Not only do we worry about the health concerns, but we also worry about the environmental concerns,” 17-year-old Zahlia said.

“The ocean is our second home, and it is also now being affected by vapes.”

Ella Watkins will preach the dangers of vaping to her more than two million followers on TikTok. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Olympic diver Sam Fricker has also joined the anti-vaping campaign. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Content creator and gamer Jack Busuttil, who uses the moniker “Jackbuzza” said he was
“really pleased” to use his platforms to encourage young Australians, including his 3.9m followers on TikTok, to stop vaping or not start.

“I know in the gaming and content space, a lot of young people vape without understanding the health consequences of that choice, including the addictive nature of vaping,” he said.

Vapes confiscated by a high school principal in Australia.

Actor Ella Watkins, who has 2.8m followers on TikTok, 17-year-old Olympic diver Sam Fricker, content creators Lottie Dalziel and HeyImZed are also taking part in the awareness campaign.

A ban on the import of all non-therapeutic vapes into Australia comes into effect on March 1, and follows a ban on the importation of single-use disposable vapes at the start of this year.

Since January 1 Australian Border Force and Therapeutic Goods Administration officials have seized 360,000 vapes worth almost $11 million.

Originally published as Influencers called up to boost anti-vaping message to Aussie teens