13 Indonesia Groups Urge Influencers to Stop Promoting Vapes

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A coalition of 13 Indonesian civil society organizations, including the Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI) and the Indonesian Youth Council for Tactical Changes (IYCTC), has issued an open letter urging social media influencers to cease promoting vape products to children and adolescents. Mouhamad Bigwanto, Chairman of the Indonesian Health Policy Space (RUKKI), stated that young people are daily exposed to influencer content that overtly promotes these addictive products, often portraying e-cigarettes as a cool and safe lifestyle choice.

Bigwanto emphasized that vaping can cause addiction, carries serious health risks, and serves as an early entry point to nicotine dependence. He cited a 2020 online study of 1,239 Indonesians aged 15+ in five major cities, which found that exposure to e-cigarette ads on social media was strongly linked to use. Approximately 84% of respondents had seen such promotions on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and those exposed were nearly three times more likely to have used or be active users of e-cigarettes.

Furthermore, Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2021 data showed a tenfold increase in Indonesian adult e-cigarette use over a decade (0.3% in 2011 to 3.0% in 2021). For teenagers aged 10-18, use doubled in five years (0.06% in 2018 to 0.13% in 2023). Bigwanto highlighted WHO warnings about nicotine’s negative impacts, including addiction, catastrophic diseases, brain development damage in youth, and productivity loss.

He lamented the lack of firm action from social media platforms and noted that for years, vapes were freely promoted with minimal regulation beyond an excise tax introduced in 2018. Only last year did Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024 on Health ban tobacco and e-cigarette product advertising on social media.

Lisa Sundari, Chairperson of the Lentera Anak Foundation, called on influencers to comply with this new regulation, citing examples of public figures like Ariel Noah and members of “The Prediksi” motorcycle club promoting vape brands. The coalition urged influencers to remove promotional posts and use their reach to educate about nicotine dangers and healthy lifestyles, supporting the implementation of regulations to protect Indonesian youth.

Matthew Ma
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