Social Media Discussions on the FDA’s Modified Risk Tobacco Product Authorization of Iqos
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21646552 |
|---|---|
| Authors | J Jun (0000-0002-0720-7122, University of South Carolina, corresponding author), Nanlan Zhang (0000-0001-8599-2202, University of South Carolina), Ali Zain (0000-0001-9500-6349, University of South Carolina), Ehsan Mohammadi (0000-0003-3481-6991, University of South Carolina) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 472-480 |
| Publication date | 2022-02-23 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Substance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10826084.2021.2019777 |
| PMID | 34986075 |
| OpenAlex | W4206027588 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 35 |
Background: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of the IQOS tobacco heating system as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) in July 2020, permitting its ‘reduced exposure’ marketing. This decision is accompanied by much controversy among the global health community. We provide a preliminary analysis of Twitter conversations regarding the MRTP authorization of IQOS by identifying the authors, valence towards the policy decision, source of cited link, and focused topic. Methods: We analyzed 548 tweets mentioning MRTP posted between July 2016 (when PMI submitted the proposal) and October 2020. Results: We found a higher proportion of pro-MRTP valence (25.4%) than anti-MRTP (16.2%). Nearly half of the tweets (47.2%) expressing personal opinions presented pro-MRTP valence (vs. anti-MRTP = 23.9%). The FDA website was more frequently cited in pro-MRTP tweets (30.8% vs. anti = 4.8%), while tobacco control advocates’ websites were cited only in anti-MRTP tweets (77.4% vs. pro = 0). Pro-MRTP valence appeared more frequently in tweets mentioning health (53.1% vs. anti =38.5%) and cessation (100% vs. anti = 0). Nearly 42% of tweets showed a bot score greater than .43, indicating a possibility of automation. Conclusion: Continuous efforts are needed to surveil the industry’s attempts to create a climate of false consensus and circulate misinformation regarding MRTP on social media, as well as to assist non-scientific audiences’ understanding of MRTP
Authorization · Misinformation · Social media · World Wide Web · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Computer Science · Medicine · Smoking Behavior and Cessation · Social Media in Health Education
Exposure to General Health Information on Social Media and Belief About the Role of Alternative Tobacco Products in Smoking Cessation Among U.S. Adult Social Media Users
The Influence of the US FDA Authorized Modified Exposure Claim on Heuristic Processing of Tobacco Risk Information and Marketing Message Among Young Adults
Deciphering Influence on Social Media
Large language models' varying accuracy in recognizing risk-promoting and health-supporting sentiments in public health discourse
Framing as a Theory of Media Effects
Awareness and interest in Iqos heated tobacco products among youth in Canada, England and the USA
Heated tobacco products likely appeal to adolescents and young adults
Impact of modified risk tobacco product claims on beliefs of US adults and adolescents
Tobacco control advocacy in the age of social media
Twitter=quitter? An analysis of Twitter quit smoking social networks
Setting the agenda for a healthy retail environment
Heated tobacco product regulation under US law and the FCTC
Light and mild redux
Using Expert Sources to Correct Health Misinformation in Social Media
Framing
It Takes a Village
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2026 (3) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |