Generation Z may finally be ready to put down their vapes, but not for the reason you’d expect.
The war on vapes has been ongoing for a long time, with young people constantly being warned about the health risks, and yet they’ve been increasing in popularity, not declining.
Disposable vapes have also become increasingly popular and in Australia from January there will be a ban on importing single-use vapes.
Getting Generation Z to part with their vapes has felt like a losing battle, but now there’s finally a glimmer of hope.
There’s a movement taking over on TikTok encouraging young people to stop vaping to show solidarity with people of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
While Generation Z seems unfazed by the associated health risks or growing environmental concerns, they take social justice very seriously.
Developer Kristina, 25, accumulated thousands of views when she said she was quitting vaping after learning about the child labour and slave-like conditions happening in the Congo mines.
Modern electronics like computers, mobile phones, and disposable vapes are often powered by cobalt; a large amount of the world’s supply is mined in the Congo, and it has been reported that conditions are so bad they contravene basic human rights for workers.
When Kristina found this she expressed that she was “f ** king giving up” before explaining that consumerism was to blame for the issues arising in the Congo.
One TikToker said she was “not comfy” vaping knowing this about the production. TikTok
The young vaper said that she rarely replaced her phone, television, or electronics but was constantly buying new vapes.
“The only thing I really buy all the time is my vape, which has cobalt in it. My vape has the stuff they mine in it,” she exclaimed.
Kristina said she felt “disgusted” to find that and wanted to make an effort to consume less, so she’d come to the conclusion she needed to stop vaping,
“Look up what is going on in the Congo today, and you look at your vape, I swear you’ll never see it the same,” she reasoned.
She said that after learning about what was happening in the Congo, every time she “hit” her vape, she just didn’t feel “comfortable” anymore.
“I’m going to quit vaping for the Congo,” she declared and added that she hoped this video reached her fellow vapers.
Gen Z is horrified at the treatment of people in the Congo making the batteries for their vapes. TikTok
Her TikTok started a significant conversation online with young people in the comment section, stating they would also quit vaping.
“Ladies we are switching to cigarettes, do it for Congo,” one commented.
“I could never quit because I don’t want to,
