Key Points:
·Multiple medical institutions in the Netherlands have joined forces to urge the social media platform Snapchat to stop the spread of e-cigarette content.
·Although flavored e-cigarettes are banned in the Netherlands, they can still be easily found on Snapchat.
·Lawyers argue that Snapchat has the technological ability to identify and block this content.
·If no action is taken within 14 days, complaints will be filed with regulatory authorities and the platform may face fines.
The Youth Smoking Prevention Foundation (De Stichting Rookpreventie Jeugd) is calling on social media platform Snapchat to increase efforts to crackdown on e-cigarette sales. In a letter addressed to the platform, the foundation, along with Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, the Dutch Cancer Society, the Dutch Lung Foundation, and the Dutch Heart Foundation, collectively urged for action. Despite the Netherlands banning the sale of flavored e-cigarettes over a year ago, e-cigarette retailers are still active on the social media platform Snapchat.
Daniëlle Cohen, a pulmonologist at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), said:
"We have found that an increasing number of young people are developing a serious dependency on nicotine through these products. This is having a significant impact on their physical and mental health."
These organizations believe that Snapchat has done too little in preventing the promotion of e-cigarettes.
"We demand that Snapchat better reduce the promotion of e-cigarettes."
Laura van Gijn, representing the law firm De Roos, spoke on behalf of these organizations.
Fang Jin said that anyone who searches for usernames containing "vape" on Snapchat will find dealers. According to her, these individuals are typically minors.
"We have also heard that some children who have not yet tried e-cigarettes may automatically see promotional information for e-cigarettes on Snapchat. People who share e-cigarette advertisements usually receive discounts."
The platform has 14 days to make adjustments. If improvements are not made, lawyers will file a lawsuit against the consumers, market regulators, and the European Commission.
"They can be enforced, and even possibly fined."
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