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Policy and Behavior: Comparisons between Twitter Discussions about the US Tobacco 21 Law and Other Age-Related Behaviors

Author

Listed:
  • Page D. Dobbs

    (Health, Human Performance and Recreation Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA)

  • Jason B. Colditz

    (Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA)

  • Shelby Shields

    (Health, Human Performance and Recreation Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA)

  • Anna Meadows

    (Health, Human Performance and Recreation Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA)

  • Brian A. Primack

    (College of Education and Health Professions, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
    College of Public Health and Human Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA)

Abstract

To combat the e-cigarette epidemic among young audiences, a federal law was passed in the US that raised the minimum legal sales age of tobacco to 21 years (commonly known as Tobacco 21). Little is known about sentiment toward this law. Thus, the purpose of our study was to systematically explore trends about Tobacco 21 discussions and comparisons to other age-restriction behaviors on Twitter. Twitter data (n = 4628) were collected from September to December of 2019 that were related to Tobacco 21. A random subsample of identified tweets was used to develop a codebook. Two trained coders independently coded all data, with strong inter-rater reliability (κ = 0.71 to 0.93) found for all content categories. Associations between sentiment and content categories were calculated using χ 2 analyses. Among relevant tweets (n = 955), the most common theme—the disjunction between ages for military enlistment and tobacco use—was found in 17.8% of all tweets. Anti-policy sentiment was strongly associated with the age of military enlistment, alcohol, voting, and adulthood ( p < 0.001 for all). Opposition to Tobacco 21 propagates on social media because the US federal law does not exempt military members. However, the e-cigarette epidemic may have fueled some support for this law.

Suggested Citation

  • Page D. Dobbs & Jason B. Colditz & Shelby Shields & Anna Meadows & Brian A. Primack, 2022. "Policy and Behavior: Comparisons between Twitter Discussions about the US Tobacco 21 Law and Other Age-Related Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:5:p:2613-:d:757369
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samir S Soneji & Hai-Yen Sung & Brian A Primack & John P Pierce & James D Sargent, 2018. "Quantifying population-level health benefits and harms of e-cigarette use in the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Jianjiu Chen & Sai Yin Ho & Lok Tung Leung & Man Ping Wang & Tai Hing Lam, 2019. "Adolescent Support for Tobacco Control Policies and Associations with Tobacco Denormalization Beliefs and Harm Perceptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, January.
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    4. Apollonio, D.E. & Glantz, S.A., 2016. "Minimum ages of legal access for tobacco in the United States from 1863 to 2015," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(7), pages 1200-1207.
    5. Smith, E.A. & Malone, R.E., 2009. ""Everywhere the soldier will be": Wartime tobacco promotion in the us military," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(9), pages 1595-1602.
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