Vendors of Synthetic Nicotine Vapes on Instagram Are Skirting FDA Rules [Video]

Key Takeaways

The FDA has clamped down on social media ads for vapes with synthetic nicotine.Eighty-seven percent of such ads contained falsehoods about addictive vapesFlavored versions of vape products are also heavily promoted, upping risks for young consumers

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2024 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently mandates strong health warnings when vapes containing synthetic nicotine are advertised on Instagram and other social media.

Trouble is, most vendors aren’t adhering to those rules meant to protect kids, a new study finds.

It’s a new phenomenon, said study co-author Traci Hong, professor of communication at Boston University.

“Because synthetic nicotine isn’t derived from tobacco, it evaded the regulatory authority of the FDA until April 2022,” Hong noted in a university news release. “This regulatory loophole allowed manufacturers to flood the market with synthetic nicotine products with flavors previously banned in traditional tobacco products due to their appeal to youth.

“Additionally, these products were often marketed as …