TikTok has become a hub for a unique form of activism, as Gen Z users quit vaping to protest child labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Triggered by viral calls to limit electronic waste, this movement gained momentum when TikTok creator @itskristinamf posted a video earlier this month announcing her decision to quit vaping due to the humanitarian crisis in the DRC. Cobalt, a crucial component in electronic devices including vapes, is reportedly mined in the DRC under hazardous conditions. In turn, users are pledging to quit vaping in solidarity, shedding light on cobalt mining’s exploitative nature and contributing to awareness about electronic waste issues. This TikTok-driven movement highlights the interconnectedness of consumer choices aligning with global causes, all while redirecting the conversation around quitting vaping from personal health to collective action for ethical reasons. Gen Z has long leveraged social media for activism and YPulse’s Causes / Charity and Activism report shows that the majority of Gen Z have taken action to support a social cause. (SCREENSHOT Media)
Reports and Webinars are limited to the Region terms of your Pro and Prime subscription, as shown in “Purchased Regions”.
- To filter all content types to individual Region(s) you have purchased, apply your Region(s) under “Purchased Regions.”
Articles, Video Updates, and News across all Regions are open to all Pro and Prime subscribers.
- To see this content for any Region, use the “Content Filter”.
