Gen Z Finally Found a Reason to Quit Vaping: Help the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Getting teenagers to quit smoking seems to be an endless battle for parents. With the gradual decline of cigarette appeal around the year 2000, e-cigarettes gained "cool" status among Generation Z—especially when they are wrapped in candy flavors and endorsed by celebrities and influencers.

Now, despite overwhelming evidence showing the health risks and environmental damage of e-cigarettes—not to mention government crackdowns—they remain popular among the younger generation. However, while these factors have failed to convince teenagers to quit the habit, social justice might actually make a difference.

Currently, there is an online movement on TikTok where Gen Z individuals encourage each other to quit vaping to support the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo—where cobalt mining is used to produce lithium-ion batteries that power most electronic devices in the world, including major disposable e-cigarette brands like JUUL, Elf Bar, and Geek Bar.

When young people discovered the inhumane working conditions faced by cobalt miners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they were shocked. The BBC referred to it as "modern slavery," leading to a viral boycott movement.

25-year-old Kristina gained 1.8 million views for her passionate video appeal.

In the video, Kristina stated, "I was really shocked." She recently learned about the business practices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and realized that among all the electronic products she uses that contain cobalt, the only ones she regularly consumes are disposable e-cigarettes, which significantly contribute to the problem.

"If you go learn about what is happening in the Congo right now and then look at your e-cigarette, I swear you will never look at it the same way again."

Kristina's feelings resonate with others in her age group, who are working to raise awareness about the plight of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and sharing how this knowledge has fundamentally changed their perspectives.

If these videos are any indication of what today’s youth truly care about, freedom seems to be paramount. Several Gen Z individuals have stated that previously, they would resist quitting smoking for health reasons with the slogan "my body, my choice." However, after learning about the plight of those suffering in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they find it impossible to continue using their e-cigarettes.

Compassion-driven action is another major factor. Generation Z appears to be more engaged in activism than previous generations, and TikTok serves as a primary platform for igniting deep conversations about social injustices. Essentially, Gen Z knows how to use their voices and tends to use them to stop suffering.

While this movement may signal a resurgence of teenage smoking, the misdeeds of the tobacco industry are no secret. So this time, perhaps we can all support something that benefits everyone.

Although this story highlights some of the less pleasant aspects of humanity, it is still uplifting to see different generations potentially unite over a shared sense of compassion.