UNAIR NEWS – To regulate cigarette consumption, the Faculty of Public Health (FKM) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) gathered influencers in Surabaya on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The gathering took place at the Dayak Room in the ASEEC Tower, Dharmawangsa-B Campus, UNAIR.
Organized by the Research Group Tobacco Control (RGTC) of FKM UNAIR in collaboration with the Tobacco Control Support Center (TCSC), the event was titled “Influencer Gathering: Encouraging Communication for Tobacco Control, Focusing on Electric-Cigarette in Modern Lifestyle.” Various influencers and content creators from Surabaya, spanning different fields such as lifestyle, beauty, nutrition, culinary, and education, attended the gathering.
“In this digital era, social media serves as an effective platform to educate the wider community, especially the youth, about the dangers of electronic cigarettes. Therefore, the role of influencers and content creators in providing education regarding the hazards of electronic cigarettes is crucial,” stated Dr. Sri Widati SSos MSi, or Dr. Wiwit of the RGTC team at FKM UNAIR.
Creating public awareness
Dr. Wiwit further emphasized that the gathering is expected to create public awareness to optimize healthy lifestyles. She also hoped that all influencers could contribute through creative and informative educational content to change perceptions towards the use of vape products.
“Both conventional cigarettes and vapes are equally harmful to an individual’s health. They contain various chemical substances, including nicotine, which causes addiction, making it difficult for users to break free from dependence,” explained the Chairman of TCSC IAKMI East Java.
Efforts to quit smoking should come from the internal motivation of each individual. In addition to intention, reducing nicotine dosage is necessary. For a more effective rehabilitation process, smokers should actively seek assistance from Smoking Cessation Units (UBM) facilitated by the government.
Influencer roles
In addition to Dr. Wiwit, Ade Nugroho ID from Purworejonya.id, a content creator specializing in influencer management, was present. He urged influencers and content creators from Surabaya to advocate for health issues, particularly tobacco control, in their social media content.
“These efforts can shape a new trend indicating a younger generation concerned about health and fully supportive of realizing Indonesia’s Golden Generation by 2045,” he remarked.
Another effort to minimize cigarette use is to counter every content related to cigarettes with more beneficial content. Moreover, supportive content should debunk myths surrounding the popularity of cigarettes. This is essential to raise public awareness about the importance of health for oneself and those around them, urging them to stay away from the dangers of smoking, whether conventional or electronic cigarettes.
Author: Rosita
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
