Kar-Hai Chu1, Jason B Colditz2, Brian A Primack2, Ariel Shensa2, Jon-Patrick Allem3, Elizabeth Miller4, Jennifer B Unger3, Tess Boley Cruz3. 1. Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: chuk@pitt.edu. 2. Center for Research on Media, Technology, and Health, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. 4. Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The increasing popularity of the JUUL electronic nicotine delivery system among youth poses several potential public health concerns. Social media can be used to better understand the spread of information related to JUUL. This study examined whether adolescents (age < 18) are following JUUL's official Twitter account and subsequently sharing (retweeting) JUUL's posts to their followers. We also assessed various patterns in which adolescents share information on JUUL with each other. METHODS: We collected 3,239 tweets from JUUL's official Twitter account (@JUULVapor) for one full year from February 2017 to January 2018. These tweets were shared by Twitter users to their followers 1,124times by 721 unique users. Users were determined to be either adolescent (age <18) or adult (≥18) based on a systematic procedure involving double coding. We used social network analysis to explore the relationships between users retweeting JUUL. RESULTS: One-quarter (25%) of users were determined to be adolescents. Social network analysis revealed a maximum path length of 4 and a positive assortativity (r = .29). There were 25 (9%) instances of an adolescent retweeting content from another adolescent, 35 (12%) of an adolescent retweeting from an adult, and 30 (11%) of an adult retweeting from an adolescent. CONCLUSIONS: JUUL's official Twitter account is being followed-and its messages are being shared-by adolescents. Rigorous policies and prevention programs are needed to curb adolescent exposure to JUUL content and discussions online.
PURPOSE: The increasing popularity of the JUUL electronic nicotine delivery system among youth poses several potential public health concerns. Social media can be used to better understand the spread of information related to JUUL. This study examined whether adolescents (age < 18) are following JUUL's official Twitter account and subsequently sharing (retweeting) JUUL's posts to their followers. We also assessed various patterns in which adolescents share information on JUUL with each other. METHODS: We collected 3,239 tweets from JUUL's official Twitter account (@JUULVapor) for one full year from February 2017 to January 2018. These tweets were shared by Twitter users to their followers 1,124times by 721 unique users. Users were determined to be either adolescent (age <18) or adult (≥18) based on a systematic procedure involving double coding. We used social network analysis to explore the relationships between users retweeting JUUL. RESULTS: One-quarter (25%) of users were determined to be adolescents. Social network analysis revealed a maximum path length of 4 and a positive assortativity (r = .29). There were 25 (9%) instances of an adolescent retweeting content from another adolescent, 35 (12%) of an adolescent retweeting from an adult, and 30 (11%) of an adult retweeting from an adolescent. CONCLUSIONS: JUUL's official Twitter account is being followed-and its messages are being shared-by adolescents. Rigorous policies and prevention programs are needed to curb adolescent exposure to JUUL content and discussions online.
Authors: Dale S Mantey; Maria R Cooper; Stephanie L Clendennen; Keryn E Pasch; Cheryl L Perry Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2016-04-12 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Alexa A Lopez; Marzena M Hiler; Eric K Soule; Carolina P Ramôa; Nareg V Karaoghlanian; Thokozeni Lipato; Alison B Breland; Alan L Shihadeh; Thomas Eissenberg Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2015-09-16 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Samir Soneji; Jessica L Barrington-Trimis; Thomas A Wills; Adam M Leventhal; Jennifer B Unger; Laura A Gibson; JaeWon Yang; Brian A Primack; Judy A Andrews; Richard A Miech; Tory R Spindle; Danielle M Dick; Thomas Eissenberg; Robert C Hornik; Rui Dang; James D Sargent Journal: JAMA Pediatr Date: 2017-08-01 Impact factor: 16.193
Authors: Jon-Patrick Allem; Patricia Escobedo; Kar-Hai Chu; Daniel W Soto; Tess Boley Cruz; Jennifer B Unger Journal: Tob Control Date: 2016-03-08 Impact factor: 7.552
Authors: Andrea C Villanti; Shelly Naud; Julia C West; Jennifer L Pearson; Olivia A Wackowski; Elizabeth Hair; Raymond S Niaura; Jessica M Rath Journal: Prev Med Date: 2020-10-15 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Sarah Kahnert; Pete Driezen; James Balmford; Christina N Kyriakos; Tibor Demjén; Esteve Fernández; Paraskevi A Katsaounou; Antigona C Trofor; Krzysztof Przewoźniak; Witold A Zatoński; Geoffrey T Fong; Constantine I Vardavas; Ute Mons Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2020-07-01 Impact factor: 3.367
Authors: Erin A Vogel; Danielle E Ramo; Mark L Rubinstein; Kevin L Delucchi; Sabrina M Darrow; Caitlin Costello; Judith J Prochaska Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2021-03-19 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Jaime E Sidani; Jason B Colditz; Erica L Barrett; Ariel Shensa; Kar-Hai Chu; A Everette James; Brian A Primack Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2019-08-30 Impact factor: 4.492