The ease of buying and selling e-cigarettes on social media platforms is creating significant challenges for management and public health protection.
What solutions are there for the easy access of e-cigarettes online for young people?
The ease of buying and selling e-cigarettes on social media platforms is creating significant challenges for management and public health protection.
In recent years, e-cigarettes (vapes) have become a popular trend, especially among young people. However, the buying and selling of e-cigarettes on social media platforms is creating significant challenges for management and public health protection.
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| Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Zalo, and especially private groups and online forums, have become "marketplaces" for trading e-cigarettes. |
Despite efforts by authorities to control and prevent the consumption of these products, the online trade of e-cigarettes via social media remains complex, making it difficult to enforce legal regulations.
Social media, with its ability to connect and promote products quickly, has become an ideal trading channel for those selling e-cigarettes.
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Zalo, and especially private groups and online forums, have become "marketplaces" for trading e-cigarettes.
These products are heavily advertised in various forms, from sharing information about the latest brands and models to attractive offers or success stories of e-cigarette users.
This has created a favorable environment for the buying and selling of e-cigarettes without facing strict control from authorities.
Consumers, especially young people, can easily access these products without being aware of the health risks or legal issues involved.
Although e-cigarettes have been banned from import and production in Vietnam since January 1, 2024, authorities have yet to issue specific regulations to control their trade.
These products are still being sold clandestinely through social media channels, mainly personal pages, private groups, and e-commerce platforms.
Despite strict regulations on tobacco advertising, the application of these regulations to e-cigarettes remains limited. Therefore, managing and addressing violations related to e-cigarettes on social media is quite challenging.
Ms. Nguyen Thi An, Director of HealthBridge, shared with a reporter from Investment Newspaper that social media creates a favorable environment for anonymous transactions. Sellers can easily open fake accounts, post advertisements for e-cigarettes, or join private groups to reach customers without facing control from authorities.
Furthermore, purchasing e-cigarettes through social media is very convenient, allowing consumers to access the product without having to go to official stores. This makes management even more complex and difficult to control.
Furthermore, controlling and addressing violations on social media platforms is extremely challenging. Social media is global in nature, and since the servers of sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are located abroad, applying Vietnamese law to handle violations becomes complicated.
Authorities are having difficulty detecting and quickly dealing with accounts and groups selling e-cigarettes, leading to the continued prevalence of clandestine trading.
To minimize the risks from buying and selling e-cigarettes via social media, according to Ms. An, authorities need to implement stronger measures in management and supervision.
In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the dissemination of information and educate consumers about the health risks of using e-cigarettes, while also informing the public about products of unknown origin that may be harmful. Young people need to be warned about the risks of using e-cigarettes, not only health risks but also legal risks.
Authorities need to coordinate with social media platforms to control the sale of e-cigarettes. Simultaneously, violations need to be handled more quickly and decisively. Stronger penalties are needed to punish individuals and organizations that violate regulations related to the sale of e-cigarettes.
Because e-cigarettes are often traded across borders, international cooperation to control the market and prohibit the import of these products into Vietnam is essential.
Authorities need to strengthen information exchange with regulatory agencies in other countries to prevent the trafficking of e-cigarettes from foreign markets.
The sale of e-cigarettes via social media poses a significant challenge to public health management and protection. Addressing this issue requires strong intervention from relevant authorities, cooperation from social media platforms, and increased consumer awareness.
Only with strict and coordinated measures can we control this situation and protect public health, especially young people, from the potential harms of e-cigarettes.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/giai-phap-nao-cho-viec-gioi-tre-de-dang-tiep-can-thuoc-la-dien-tu-tren-mang-d232940.html
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