Teens are getting involved in civic action to fight Big Tobacco, which helps reduce screen time while making a real impact. From recent teen-led policy wins and youth advocacy at CADCA to ongoing legal cases questioning how social media platforms hook young users, the post highlights why this moment matters and shares national organizations where teens can get involved.
Here is a win-win: youth getting involved in groups that are working to make the world a better place, and in doing so, they’re likely spending less time consuming media. Encouraging youth to be civically involved is a gift to them and to our society.
Today I want to talk about national organizations that youth, including yours, can get involved in to fight Big Tobacco, the force behind the vaping epidemic. Maybe your tween or teen would like to get involved.
Let me start with a wonderful example of a group of teens making a difference in this area.
On my podcast episode yesterday; How High Schoolers Took on Big Tobacco and Won, my guest was 25-year-old Raven, who, along with her volunteer teenagers, helped two towns make it illegal to sell nicotine products. This is a brand-new and wonderful win.
Nicotine products that doctors use to help people quit smoking, like nicotine patches, are still allowed.
I was inspired to write about teen advocacy now because a few days ago I saw hundreds of teens having fun and spending time together, all focused on preventing substance use among youth, including anti Big Tobacco.
My Screenagers film partner, Lisa Tabb, and I were at CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America), where we screened Screenagers Under The Influence.
Teens were excited to talk with us about their efforts to push back against the forces that brought vaping and other nicotine products into their media feeds and into nearby convenience stores.
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Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
It’s also incredibly timely that we were hearing from teens who are fighting Big Tobacco, because right now in Los Angeles, jury selection has just happened for what’s being called a “Big Tobacco Moment” for social media. It is one of many cases against companies like Meta and YouTube.
The core question: Were these companies intentionally trying to addict young users through things like algorithmic feeds and autoplay, and did the companies know it? (In the current case, Snap and TikTok negotiated a settlement.)
Below are resources for kids and teens to look up opportunities to get involved in fighting Big Tobacco. Some parents even start local chapters with other families, so keep that option in mind if you’re not finding much in your area.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Youth Initiatives
Truth Initiative: Youth Engagement Alliance
American Lung Association: Youth Advocacy
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! We add new videos regularly and you'll find over 100 videos covering parenting advice, guidance, podcasts, movie clips and more. Here's our most recent:
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Here is a win-win: youth getting involved in groups that are working to make the world a better place, and in doing so, they’re likely spending less time consuming media. Encouraging youth to be civically involved is a gift to them and to our society.
Today I want to talk about national organizations that youth, including yours, can get involved in to fight Big Tobacco, the force behind the vaping epidemic. Maybe your tween or teen would like to get involved.
Let me start with a wonderful example of a group of teens making a difference in this area.
On my podcast episode yesterday; How High Schoolers Took on Big Tobacco and Won, my guest was 25-year-old Raven, who, along with her volunteer teenagers, helped two towns make it illegal to sell nicotine products. This is a brand-new and wonderful win.
Nicotine products that doctors use to help people quit smoking, like nicotine patches, are still allowed.
I was inspired to write about teen advocacy now because a few days ago I saw hundreds of teens having fun and spending time together, all focused on preventing substance use among youth, including anti Big Tobacco.
My Screenagers film partner, Lisa Tabb, and I were at CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America), where we screened Screenagers Under The Influence.
Teens were excited to talk with us about their efforts to push back against the forces that brought vaping and other nicotine products into their media feeds and into nearby convenience stores.
It’s also incredibly timely that we were hearing from teens who are fighting Big Tobacco, because right now in Los Angeles, jury selection has just happened for what’s being called a “Big Tobacco Moment” for social media. It is one of many cases against companies like Meta and YouTube.
The core question: Were these companies intentionally trying to addict young users through things like algorithmic feeds and autoplay, and did the companies know it? (In the current case, Snap and TikTok negotiated a settlement.)
Below are resources for kids and teens to look up opportunities to get involved in fighting Big Tobacco. Some parents even start local chapters with other families, so keep that option in mind if you’re not finding much in your area.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Youth Initiatives
Truth Initiative: Youth Engagement Alliance
American Lung Association: Youth Advocacy
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! We add new videos regularly and you'll find over 100 videos covering parenting advice, guidance, podcasts, movie clips and more. Here's our most recent:
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Here is a win-win: youth getting involved in groups that are working to make the world a better place, and in doing so, they’re likely spending less time consuming media. Encouraging youth to be civically involved is a gift to them and to our society.
Today I want to talk about national organizations that youth, including yours, can get involved in to fight Big Tobacco, the force behind the vaping epidemic. Maybe your tween or teen would like to get involved.
Let me start with a wonderful example of a group of teens making a difference in this area.
On my podcast episode yesterday; How High Schoolers Took on Big Tobacco and Won, my guest was 25-year-old Raven, who, along with her volunteer teenagers, helped two towns make it illegal to sell nicotine products. This is a brand-new and wonderful win.
Nicotine products that doctors use to help people quit smoking, like nicotine patches, are still allowed.
I was inspired to write about teen advocacy now because a few days ago I saw hundreds of teens having fun and spending time together, all focused on preventing substance use among youth, including anti Big Tobacco.
My Screenagers film partner, Lisa Tabb, and I were at CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America), where we screened Screenagers Under The Influence.
Teens were excited to talk with us about their efforts to push back against the forces that brought vaping and other nicotine products into their media feeds and into nearby convenience stores.
This week is Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s longest-running youth drug-prevention program — and I can’t think of a more important time to talk about a new, dangerous substance spreading fast among teens called 7-OH that's derived from the kratom plant.
READ MORE >
Research shows that adolescent substance initiation — teens trying smoking or drinking for the first time — spikes during the summer. More downtime often means more screen time, which brings increased exposure to what’s trending. One trend that’s hard to ignore? A surge in cigarette imagery across films, music videos, and pop culture moments. Even Beyoncé lit up onstage recently. So why is smoking getting a media makeover — and how can we talk to teens meaningfully about it?
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
