Health Ministry: Children Must Be Protected from Vape Promotions on Social Media

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health has affirmed that children must be protected from exposure to and the promotion of tobacco products, both conventional and electronic, or vape.

Head of the Ministry’s Bureau of Communication and Public Information, Aji Muhawarman, said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the Ministry was concerned about reports that a content creator had allegedly involved children in vape promotion during a live broadcast.

The Ministry respects and supports the process currently being carried out by law enforcement and related ministries and agencies in accordance with their authority.

“Article 151 of Law Number 17 of 2023 on Health mandates the safeguarding of addictive substances in the form of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to protect public health, especially children and adolescents,” he said.

These provisions are reinforced in Government Regulation Number 28 of 2024, particularly Articles 435 to 449, which regulate the safeguarding of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes, including restrictions on advertising, promotion, sponsorship and sales, as well as the protection of children from exposure to these products.

“The Ministry of Health affirms that vape is not a safe product. Electronic cigarettes still contain nicotine, which is addictive, as well as various chemical substances that can increase the risk of dependence and chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and lung disease,” he said.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health continues to strengthen education on the dangers of cigarettes and vape for the public, especially children and adolescents.

“The Ministry of Health invites parents, educators, content creators, business actors, digital platforms and all of society to jointly create a safe digital space and not to make children targets of, or part of, the promotion of products that endanger health,” he said.

Previously, it was reported in the mass media and on social media that YouTuber Bigmo promoted vape during a live broadcast, allegedly involving children. He was reported to the police over the matter.

The police said they would summon the YouTuber in response to the report.

Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid plans to summon the digital platform YouTube following the discovery of content created by a creator promoting electronic cigarette (vape) products that targeted and involved children.

This summons is a follow-up to YouTube, as the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs had previously sent a first warning letter on Sunday (2/8) over the discovery of vape product promotional content by content creator Muhammad Jannah, alias Bigmo, which involved minors during a live broadcast.