TikTok Has Huge Number Of Fraudulent E-Cigarette Sales Accounts
Not surprisingly, a recent analysis of 29 peer-reviewed studies indicated that exposure to tobacco and e-cigarette products on social media increases consumption. The study, which was published in JAMA Pediatrics, evaluated survey responses from over 139,000 participants from different studies, representing a range of age groups, nationalities, and social media platforms. The study revealed that social media users who watched tobacco-related content were more likely to use tobacco products.
Meanwhile, TikTok has been experiencing problems with content filtering, and its most recent problem involves illicit e-cigarette content. The proliferation of anonymous accounts claiming simple access to disposable e-cigarettes has created a "black market" platform. In certain instances, these accounts contain links to external websites that enable users to mass-produce things.
Parents are therefore advised to closely monitor their children's TikTok accounts. For instance, the number of young people utilizing unofficial Elf Bar accounts rose from 557,960 in March to over 650,000 in September 2022, an increase of over 100,000 users, or 15%.
TikTok suffers from censorship of content.
Experts have lately noted that TikTok has struggled to restrict the spread of e-cigarettes since it mainly relies on users to report content, as opposed to doing so itself. "TikTok promotes an automated approach, claiming that it 'allows our staff to spend more time analyzing contextual or complex content, such as hate speech, bullying and harassment, and misinformation,'" according to a criminal law lecturer at Griffith University who was quoted by VICE.
Dan Marchant, the director of the British online e-cigarette company Vape Club, emphasized that the most alarming aspect of these bogus accounts is that the products they sell may be unlicensed and hence potentially hazardous.
"It is concerning that there are so many bogus social media accounts for retailers. Not only would unscrupulous individuals offer e-cigarette items to minors in this way, but the products themselves may be counterfeit. Worse yet, these counterfeit goods may be hazardous."
Marchant emphasized that trustworthy merchants have the necessary safeguards in place to prevent selling to minors. "Reputable merchants have the necessary precautions in place to prevent minors from purchasing e-cigarette items. Before allowing a new consumer to place a purchase, we do a thorough digital verification of their identity."
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