TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Researcher Lestari Nurhajati from London School of Public Relations (LSPR) Jakarta revealed online cigarette advertisements had significantly affected teenagers.

“The bombardment of online media cigarette ads has significantly affected teenagers’ smoking habit up to 31.8 percent,” said Lestari in the dissemination of the research's results on the situations and challenges on tobacco control in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The research was conducted on 173 teenagers in a number of major cities such as Semarang, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya. According to its results, 100 percent respondents who are active smokers say they will keep their habit after seeing an online cigarette ad.

Read: YLKI Urges Removal of Cigarette Ads in KAI Stations

Meanwhile, 10 percent of the respondents have a tendency to smoke after seeing an online cigarette advertisement.

“As much as 57.8 percent of the respondents were aware of the contents of the advertisements, moreover, 8.7 percent are really aware of it. Other than that, 58 percent of them know what the cigarette advertisements are meant for,” said Lestari.

Lestari revealed that 47 percent of the respondents acknowledged cigarette ads were extremely creative and 12.1 percent tended to enjoy online cigarette ads. “Which is why the campaign to curb tobacco and the dangers of smoking among teens must be stepped up in online platforms that can be accessed by teens,” she maintained.

ANTARA