Health & Medicine
Quit Smoking by Using Social Media: Young Adults are More Likely to Listen to Apps
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Jun 10, 2015 08:34 AM EDT
Want to quit smoking? Try social media. Scientists have found that young adults who use social media to quit smoking are twice as successful as those who use more traditional methods.
In this latest study, the researchers compared the success of the social media-based campaign Break It Off with Smoker's Helpline, a telephone hotline for young adults looking to quit smoking. After three months in the program, 32 percent of smokers who used Break It Off apps and web tools had quit smoking. That's compared to the 14 percent who only used the telephone support.
"These findings suggest that the creators of public health campaigns need to evaluate how they use social media channels and social networks to improve health, especially with regards to younger demographics," said Bruce Baskerville, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Traditional cessation services can have limited reach and this reduced visibility lessens their impact in a digital era. Because they are such heavy users of social media, these platforms provide an alternative and successful way of reaching smokers who are less likely to relate to other cessation programs."
The findings reveal that when it comes to quitting smoking, social media may be key. Having access to an app or other reminders on a smartphone could be huge for young adults.
Smoking can be a major public health issue. That's why finding new tools in order to help those who wish to quite is especially important.
The findings are published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
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First Posted: Jun 10, 2015 08:34 AM EDT
Want to quit smoking? Try social media. Scientists have found that young adults who use social media to quit smoking are twice as successful as those who use more traditional methods.
In this latest study, the researchers compared the success of the social media-based campaign Break It Off with Smoker's Helpline, a telephone hotline for young adults looking to quit smoking. After three months in the program, 32 percent of smokers who used Break It Off apps and web tools had quit smoking. That's compared to the 14 percent who only used the telephone support.
"These findings suggest that the creators of public health campaigns need to evaluate how they use social media channels and social networks to improve health, especially with regards to younger demographics," said Bruce Baskerville, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Traditional cessation services can have limited reach and this reduced visibility lessens their impact in a digital era. Because they are such heavy users of social media, these platforms provide an alternative and successful way of reaching smokers who are less likely to relate to other cessation programs."
The findings reveal that when it comes to quitting smoking, social media may be key. Having access to an app or other reminders on a smartphone could be huge for young adults.
Smoking can be a major public health issue. That's why finding new tools in order to help those who wish to quite is especially important.
The findings are published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
Related Stories
Smoking Puts Some Children in Poverty
Smokers are Less Likely to Vote, but Why?
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone