Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40955592›Full record

ArticleSubstance use & misuse2026

Youth Appeal in Tobacco Advertising: Evolving Tactics Targeting Those Under the Legal Age of Sale.

Suzanne Frisbee, Lauren Czaplicki, Maryam Ibrahim, Ryan David Kennedy, Meghan Bridgid Moran

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Substance use & misuse, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Suzanne FrisbeeDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Maryland, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8312-839X
Lauren CzaplickiDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Maryland, USA.
Maryam IbrahimDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Maryland, USA.
Ryan David KennedyDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Maryland, USA.
Meghan Bridgid MoranDepartment of Health, Behavior and Society, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Maryland, USA.

Funding

INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY FELLOWSHIPT32CA009314 · NCI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI Corinne E. Joshu, Meghan Bridgid Moran · 1985 to 2026
$11.2M
NCI NIH HHS T32 CA009314
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionYouth under the legal age of sale for tobacco (18-20 years old) remain highly receptive to tobacco advertising despite existing regulations intended to prevent use. Emerging marketing tactics-such as influencer partnerships and lifestyle-oriented messaging-may increase appeal among young audiences. This study explored which advertising features are most associated with ad receptivity among this age group.

methodsIn 2023, 960 U.S. participants aged 18-20 completed an online survey assessing receptivity (liking, curiosity, interest) to cigarette and e-cigarette ads. Content analysis was used to identify potentially youth-appealing features in the ads. Content coding data and participant ratings were then merged, and mixed effects logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between ad features and youth receptivity.

resultsInfluencer and celebrity endorsements, rebellious themes, and youth restriction messaging were significantly associated with increased ad liking and curiosity, especially for e-cigarettes. Cigarette ads featuring flavors and celebrity endorsements also showed higher receptivity. Interestingly, youth restriction messages-often intended to deter-were linked to increased interest, potentially due to perceived exclusivity. Flavors wereassociated with appeal for cigarettes, potentially reflecting changing norms in product marketing.

conclusionContemporary tobacco ads use both traditional and emerging tactics that appeal to young people. Features like influencer marketing and youth restriction messaging contribute to youth receptivity, highlighting gaps in current advertising regulations. These findings support the need to expand definitions of "youth appeal" and adapt policies to address the evolving nature of tobacco marketing.

Indexed as

AdvertisingTobacco ProductsAdolescentElectronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsFemaleHumansMaleUnited StatesYoung Adultadolescentsadvertisingmarketingtobacco

Identifiers

PMID40955592
PMCPMC12677187

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.