Social media used to target youth with prohibited tobacco products

By Poojathmi Rivithma

Colombo, June 9 (Daily Mirror) - Social media platforms are being used to market prohibited tobacco products, including vapes and e-cigarettes, to young people in Sri Lanka, according to the Centre for Combating Tobacco.

The Centre said e-cigarettes, vapes and other new nicotine products have become the tobacco industry's latest strategy to attract new users, particularly youth.

A study conducted in January 2026 examined social media platforms and online sites selling prohibited tobacco products. Researchers analysed the products available, their prices, purchasing methods and the marketing strategies used by sellers.

The study identified 213 online sources selling prohibited tobacco products. Facebook accounted for the highest number, with 108 sites (50.7%), followed by Instagram with 57 (26.8%), TikTok with 19 (8.9%), websites with 17 (7.9%) and WhatsApp groups with 12 (5.6%).

Researchers found that 150 sellers (70.4%) used words such as "vape", "puff" and "shisha", or similar terms, in their page names.

The Centre said many sellers employed marketing techniques that normalised the use of these products and specifically targeted young people and women. Social media influencers were also used to promote the products and make them more appealing to youth.

The findings have raised concerns over the easy availability of prohibited tobacco products online despite Sri Lanka's Prohibited Tobacco Products Regulations of 2016, which ban the sale and promotion of such products.