Vape devices with digital screens displaying animations, including popular teen-appealing designs, may heighten the risk of nicotine addiction despite recent declines in youth vaping rates.
Nicholas Florko reports for The Atlantic.
In short:
- New vape devices feature screens that play animations during inhalation, with designs that resemble retro video games.
- Experts warn that the novelty and visual appeal of these screens could attract teens, reviving interest in vaping despite health warnings.
- Vaping industry representatives argue that screen additions serve as technological improvements for adult users, not as a lure for underage buyers.
Key quote:
“A screen full of animations sends the message that an e-cigarette is ‘something for fun and games and recreation.’”
— Robert Jackler, tobacco marketing expert at Stanford University.
Why this matters:
Despite gains in reducing youth vaping, vape screens may introduce a new way to hook younger users. Given that visuals can trigger dopamine, experts fear these devices could increase addiction potential, undoing recent public health efforts to curb youth nicotine use.
