Brilliant #OldFartsVaping Twitter Trend is Saving the Industry in 2023
OldFartsVaping is taking the Twittersphere by storm, with “old farts” posting photos of themselves vaping to try to make the act seem “uncool” to young people.
Saving youths, one picture at a time: that’s the aim of the #OldFartsVaping trend on Twitter.
If you scroll through the hashtag, you’ll see an array of photos of Boomers and Gen Xers enjoying their vapes, all with the idea in mind that seeing images of older people vaping will discourage young people from taking up the habit.
There is a lot of concern at the moment about young people vaping after ASH’s 2022 survey revealed that 7% of young people aged 11-17 vape, up 3% from 2020. This is a huge issue for adults who use vaping to quit smoking (as they should), since legislators have begun to attack the industry as a whole in order to keep vapes out of the hands of kids.
But the FDA better watch out: vapers on Twitter have a better idea than blanket bans and MDOs. They’re making vaping uncool to young people everywhere.
What is the #OldFartsVaping Twitter trend?
The #OldFartsVaping trend began as a response to the growing popularity of vaping among young people.
With many young people perceiving vaping as a cool and trendy activity, older individuals sought to challenge this perception by posting photos of themselves vaping in an attempt to make it look less attractive.
The intention behind older people posting these photos is to discourage young people from vaping and to promote more responsible use of vapes.
By showing that vaping is not just for young people and that older individuals engage in the activity, the trend seeks to challenge the perception that vaping is cool and to encourage young people to reconsider their use of vapes.
It’s true though: there are plenty of older vapers out there, especially when it comes to refillable vapes and mod systems. Most of the best UK vape stores report that their average customer age is somewhere between 40 and 60 years old.
Where did #OldFartsVaping come from?
Charles A Gardner, PhD (@ChaunceyGardner) is a huge advocate for vaping and Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR). He’s also the Executive Director of INNCO (International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations).
Dr. Gardner is a strong voice in the fight for evidence-based approaches to nicotine use and harm reduction. Through his tireless advocacy, Dr. Gardner is making a positive impact on the lives of smokers and vapers everywhere.
Back in 2019, Gardner started the trend with this tweet:
He began this campaign and encouraged vapers everywhere to contribute to the #OldFartsVaping hashtag, even going so far as to encourage “unflattering” selfies—the less flattering the better, he said.
By challenging the perception that vaping is just for young people and that it is a “cool” activity, the trend seeks to discourage young people from vaping and to promote more responsible use of vapes—of course, by adult ex-smokers.
Through its innovative approach, the trend serves as a powerful example of how social media can be used to shape public perception and to encourage more responsible behaviour.
Conclusion
The #OldFartsVaping trend is a valuable and innovative approach to changing the perception of vaping and encouraging more responsible use of vapes. By challenging the perception that vaping is just for young people and making it seem “uncool” by way of Twitter, the trend seeks to discourage young people from vaping and to promote more responsible use of vapes.
The #OldFartsVaping trend serves as a powerful example of how social media can be used to shape public perception and to encourage more responsible behaviour.
The potential impact of #OldFartsVaping on the future of vaping remains to be seen, but it is clear that the trend has the potential to have a significant impact on the perception of vaping and to encourage more responsible use of vapes.
