New “Smart Vapes” Targeting Youth
Youth are drawn to the latest trends, from video games and music to fashion and TV. Now, the tobacco industry is exploiting these interests with devices that blur the line between vapes, gaming and entertainment. “Smart vapes” combine vapes’ nicotine delivery with features typically found in smartphones and gaming devices — most for $20 or less.
Nicotine Addiction’s New Look
Disposable vapes continue to flood the market; however, smart vapes are saturating the shelves, equipped with touch screens, Bluetooth and built-in games — some even offer GPS tracking and personalized wallpaper options. You can find vapes with built-in speakers and LED lights. These features are adding more than just “flair,” they are actively gamifying nicotine consumption.
Gamification uses challenges and competition to encourage consumer behavior. Some smart vapes feature virtual pets that are “fed” with every puff. Others maintain leaderboards where users can compete for the highest number of puffs, even offering prizes for top rankings. These new products include celebrity endorsements and collectible trading cards.
Hooking a New Market
A new study from the University of California, Riverside revealed that the integration of familiar gaming mechanics, social features and interactive elements makes these devices particularly appealing to tech-savvy teens and are deliberately designed to hook teens who otherwise may have never considered vaping. This tactic mirrors how the tobacco industry uses flavors to hook kids.
The health implications for teens using these devices are real — from increased asthma attacks to popcorn lung and decreased stamina. Nicotine use during adolescence can also lead to multiple mental health struggles, including:
- Disrupted brain development that affects memory, concentration and learning
- Increased risk of addiction to nicotine and other substances
- Higher levels of anxiety and depression
- Elevated stress responses and mood swings
When combined with the addictive nature of gaming and excessive screen time, these so-called “smart” vapes create a perfect storm that puts teens’ physical and mental well-being at serious risk.
Despite being illegal to market or sell without FDA authorization, these products remain widely available. Their affordable price point — typically $15-20 — makes them particularly enticing for teens. Plus, digital loopholes, lax age-verification processes and shady shipping practices make vapes of all shapes, sizes and varieties accessible for young people.
Adding to Teen Addiction
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported approximately 90,000 U.S. middle and high school students acknowledged vaping in the past 30 days using “smart” vapes. These devices have rapidly climbed the ranks to become some of the most popular e-cigarette products in the country, demonstrating the effectiveness of their youth-targeted designs.
The Need for Action
As e-cigarette technology continues to evolve, the need for response becomes more urgent.
- Parents: Familiarize yourself with these new devices and designs so you know what to look for. Have open discussions with your kids and teens about the risks of nicotine addiction. Find free resources at TalkAboutTobacco.com.
- Educators: Be on the lookout for these devices in your school districts. Find free materials such as worksheets, posters and one-sheeters to help foster healthy habits at TalkAboutTobacco.com.
- Community members: Work for stricter enforcement of existing regulations and push for new policies that address the unique risks posed by smart vapes, especially for young people. Visit our Get Involved page to learn more.
This innovation is just the latest attempt by the vaping industry to draw in new, young users and hooking them for life. If your teen is vaping, or using any type of nicotine product, there are resources to help them quit. Check out the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative for vaping and tobacco prevention and quit support, as well as other healthy resources and programs for kids of all ages.