Social Media Use Reduction for Vaping

Overseen By Erin A Vogel, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Oklahoma

Disqualifiers: Lack of informed consent

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

200 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if reducing social media use affects e-cigarette consumption among young adults. Researchers seek to understand whether less time on social media influences vaping habits, mental health, and the type of content viewed online. Participants will complete surveys and share screenshots of their social media activity. Ideal candidates are young adults aged 18-25 who live in the U.S., vape occasionally, use social media daily, and own a smartphone. Participants will be divided into two groups: one will reduce social media use (Social Media Use Reduction), while the other will continue as usual. This unphased trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding the impact of social media on vaping and mental health.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on social media use and vaping, so it's unlikely that your medications will be affected.

What prior data suggests that this social media use reduction is safe for young adults?

Research has shown that reducing social media use might assist young people who want to stop vaping. Although specific safety data for reducing social media use is not available, this change is generally considered safe. Since this trial does not involve medication or physical treatment, no known side effects exist from simply using social media less. The main goal is to determine if this change can help lower e-cigarette use and improve mental health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the social media use reduction approach for vaping cessation because it tackles the problem from a behavioral angle rather than relying on medications like nicotine replacement therapies or prescription drugs. Most traditional treatments for vaping focus on reducing cravings with substances such as nicotine patches or gums. This new method is different because it aims to reduce vaping by cutting down on social media usage, which is thought to influence vaping behaviors in young people. By addressing the digital habits that might encourage vaping, this approach could offer a novel and non-pharmacological way to help individuals quit.

What evidence suggests that reducing social media use is effective for reducing e-cigarette use?

This trial will compare Social Media Use Reduction with Social Media Use as Usual. Research has shown that reducing social media use might help young adults vape less. Studies have found that digital tools, such as personalized messages on social media, can aid in quitting vaping. For instance, a program that sent text messages led to more teens reporting they quit vaping. Another study discovered that online support increased confidence in quitting. Overall, these methods seem promising for helping young people reduce their e-cigarette use. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Erin A Vogel, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Oklahoma

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young adults aged 18-25 in the U.S. who vape on some days and use social media daily with a smartphone. It's not specified who can't join, but typically those with conditions affecting results or unable to follow the protocol might be excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

This criterion is not specific enough to be understood in plain language. Can you provide more context or clarify what type of information you are looking for?

You have a smartphone.

You have used a nicotine e-cigarette on some days in the last month.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Measurement

Participants report time spent on social media, vaping-related content exposure, social comparison, mental health, and vaping behavior

4 weeks

1 visit (virtual)

Experimental

Participants are randomized to reduce social media use or continue as usual for a 3-month period

12 weeks

Monthly check-ins (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in vaping behavior and mental health after the experimental period

3 months

2 visits (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Social Media Use Reduction

Trial Overview The study tests if reducing time spent on social media affects e-cigarette use among young adults. Participants will either continue their usual social media habits or reduce usage, while researchers track changes in vaping behavior and mental health.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Social Media Use Reduction Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Social Media Use as Usual Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Oklahoma

Lead Sponsor

Trials

484

Recruited

95,900+

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Collaborator

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

University of Southern California

Collaborator

Trials

956

Recruited

1,609,000+

Stanford University

Collaborator

Trials

2,527

Recruited

17,430,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

This study outlines a randomized controlled trial testing an Instagram-based vaping cessation intervention for adolescents and young adults aged 13-21, aiming to provide evidence-based support for this vulnerable group.

The primary goal is to achieve biochemically verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence from nicotine vaping, with secondary outcomes including vaping reduction and readiness to quit, assessed at multiple time points after the intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Delivering vaping cessation interventions to adolescents and young adults on Instagram: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Lyu, JC., Olson, SS., Ramo, DE., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 2,179 young adults, adding a nicotine warning label and vaping cessation resources to pro-vaping Instagram posts improved perceptions of the influencers as honest and trustworthy, but did not significantly change intentions to use vaping products.

Participants exposed to posts with both the warning label and cessation resources showed lower susceptibility to using the advertised product and had reduced positive expectancies about vaping, suggesting that these features can help mitigate the influence of pro-vaping content.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a nicotine warning label and vaping cessation resources on young adults' perceptions of pro-vaping instagram influencer posts. Vogel, EA., Unger, JB., Vassey, J., et al.[2023]

Daily social media use among adolescents who had never used e-cigarettes was linked to a higher likelihood of being susceptible to e-cigarette use and initiating use, with adjusted odds ratios indicating significant associations (aOR = 1.46 for susceptibility, aOR = 3.55 for past use, and aOR = 3.45 for current use).

However, for adolescents who had previously used e-cigarettes, social media use did not show a significant association with continued e-cigarette use, suggesting that while social media may influence initiation, it does not necessarily affect ongoing usage.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Media Use and Subsequent E-Cigarette Susceptibility, Initiation, and Continued Use Among US Adolescents. Lee, J., Krishnan-Sarin, S., Kong, G.[2023]

This randomized clinical trial will assess the effectiveness of a Facebook-based intervention targeting both tobacco and heavy alcohol use among 225 young adult smokers, comparing it to a standard tobacco cessation program.

The primary goal is to achieve biochemically-verified smoking abstinence, while also evaluating the impact on alcohol use and overall health behaviors over a 12-month period, highlighting a novel approach to substance use treatment in young adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using Facebook to address smoking and heavy drinking in young adults: Protocol for a randomized, controlled trial. Ramo, DE., Kaur, M., Corpuz, ES., et al.[2021]

A pilot study involving 68 university students found that 'social media detoxification'—reducing or stopping social media use—led to positive changes in mood, reduced anxiety, and improved sleep during and after the detox period.

The study highlights that while many students experienced benefits from detoxification, there was significant variability in how individuals applied and responded to this practice, indicating a need for further research on its effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characteristics of social media 'detoxification' in university students. El-Khoury, J., Haidar, R., Kanj, RR., et al.[2021]

A study involving 138 young adults (ages 18-25) analyzed messages from a Facebook smoking cessation intervention, revealing that tailored messages based on participants' readiness to quit smoking effectively supported behavior change.

Four main themes emerged from participant posts: coping skills, support from friends and family, motivation to quit, and benefits of quitting, indicating that these factors are crucial in engaging young smokers, regardless of whether they received monetary incentives.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Conversation Within a Facebook Smoking Cessation Intervention Trial For Young Adults (Tobacco Status Project): Qualitative Analysis. McKelvey, K., Ramo, D.[2020]

This pilot study involving 60 Alaska Native adults demonstrated that a culturally tailored Facebook group significantly increased the use of evidence-based cessation treatments (EBCTs) compared to a control group, with about double the participants utilizing these resources at 3 and 6 months.

While the intervention showed a trend towards higher smoking abstinence at 3 months (6.5% vs. 0%), the rates were similar between groups at 6 months (6.4% vs. 6.7%), indicating the need for further research to enhance long-term cessation outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Facebook Intervention to Connect Alaska Native People With Resources and Support to Quit Smoking: CAN Quit Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Patten, CA., Koller, KR., Sinicrope, PS., et al.[2023]

Government policy documents have increasingly cited tobacco-related social media research, particularly to highlight marketing practices of the tobacco industry and the issue of youth e-cigarette use, based on a review of 38 documents from various agencies.

Key agencies like the WHO, FDA, and CDC have utilized this research to inform policy recommendations and guidance, indicating the importance of social media data in understanding and addressing tobacco-related attitudes and behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Examining tobacco-related social media research in government policy documents: systematic review. Beard, TA., Donaldson, SI., Unger, JB., et al.[2023]

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Facebook-based smoking cessation intervention for young adults aged 18 to 25, focusing on smoking abstinence and reduction in cigarette use over a 3-month period.

The intervention includes tailored support based on the individual's readiness to quit, with outcomes measured by biochemically-verified smoking abstinence and other smoking-related behaviors at multiple follow-up points (3, 6, and 12 months).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Tobacco Status Project (TSP): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a Facebook smoking cessation intervention for young adults. Ramo, DE., Thrul, J., Delucchi, KL., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10966440/

Effects of a Social Media Intervention on Vaping Intentions The objectives of this study were to evaluate (1) the effectiveness of a 60-day antivaping social media intervention in changing vaping use intentions and ...

2. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2822082

A Vaping Cessation Text Message Program for Adolescent ... A tailored, interactive text message intervention increased self-reported vaping cessation rates among adolescents recruited via social media channels.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12548964/

Exploration of Digital Interventions for Vaping Cessation Digital interventions have emerged as a promising approach to support vaping cessation, particularly among youth and young adults.

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782924000721

Effects on confidence in the ability to quit vaping and ... Results from this pilot study suggest acceptability for providing digital cessation social support via Discord to young people who are looking to quit vaping, ...

5. bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-14606-7

Delivering vaping cessation interventions to adolescents and ... The objective of this study is to describe the protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) testing the efficacy of an Instagram-based vaping cessation ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11307165/

A Vaping Cessation Text Message Program for Adolescent ... A tailored, interactive text message program increased self-reported vaping cessation rates among adolescents recruited via social media channels.

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-electronic-cigarette-use-11-2023-0b865

Social Media Use Reduction for Vaping The provided research does not directly address safety data for reducing social media use to help stop vaping. However, it includes studies on social media ...