scholarly journals Characterizing Vaping Industry Political Influence and Mobilization on Facebook: Social Network Analysis (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Robert Haupt ◽  
Qing Xu ◽  
Joshua Yang ◽  
Mingxiang Cai ◽  
Tim K Mackey
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Tobacco Industry ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
The State ◽  
Tobacco Control Policy ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Advocacy Group

BACKGROUND In response to recent policy efforts to regulate tobacco and vaping products, the vaping industry has been aggressive in mobilizing opposition by using a network of manufacturers, trade associations, and tobacco user communities, and by appealing to the general public. One strategy the alternative tobacco industry uses to mobilize political action is coordinating on social media platforms, such as the social networking site Facebook. However, few studies have specifically assessed how platforms such as Facebook are used to influence public sentiment and attitudes towards tobacco control policy. OBJECTIVE This study used social network analysis to examine how the alternative tobacco industry uses Facebook to mobilize online users to influence tobacco control policy outcomes with a focus on the state of California. METHODS Data were collected from local and national alternative tobacco Facebook groups that had affiliations with activities in the state of California. Network ties were constructed based on users’ reactions to posts (eg, “like” and “love”) and comments to characterize political mobilization networks. RESULTS Findings show that alternative tobacco industry employees were more likely to engage within these networks and that these employees were also more likely to be influential members (ie, be more active) in the network. Comparisons between subnetworks show that communication within the local alternative tobacco advocacy group network was less dense and more centralized in contrast to a national advocacy group that had overall higher levels of engagement among members. A timeline analysis found that a higher number of influential posts that disseminated widely across networks occurred during e-cigarette–related legislative events, suggesting strategic online engagement and increased mobilization of online activity for the purposes of influencing policy outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Results from this study provide important insights into how tobacco industry–related advocacy groups leverage the Facebook platform to mobilize their online constituents in an effort to influence public perceptions and coordinate to defeat tobacco control efforts at the local, state, and federal level. Study results reveal one part of a vast network of socially enabled alternative tobacco industry actors and constituents that use Facebook as a mobilization point to support goals of the alternative tobacco industry.

scholarly journals Characterizing Vaping Industry Political Influence and Mobilization on Facebook: Social Network Analysis

10.2196/28069 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. e28069
Author(s):  
Michael Robert Haupt ◽  
Qing Xu ◽  
Joshua Yang ◽  
Mingxiang Cai ◽  
Tim K Mackey
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Tobacco Industry ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
The State ◽  
Tobacco Control Policy ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Advocacy Group

Background In response to recent policy efforts to regulate tobacco and vaping products, the vaping industry has been aggressive in mobilizing opposition by using a network of manufacturers, trade associations, and tobacco user communities, and by appealing to the general public. One strategy the alternative tobacco industry uses to mobilize political action is coordinating on social media platforms, such as the social networking site Facebook. However, few studies have specifically assessed how platforms such as Facebook are used to influence public sentiment and attitudes towards tobacco control policy. Objective This study used social network analysis to examine how the alternative tobacco industry uses Facebook to mobilize online users to influence tobacco control policy outcomes with a focus on the state of California. Methods Data were collected from local and national alternative tobacco Facebook groups that had affiliations with activities in the state of California. Network ties were constructed based on users’ reactions to posts (eg, “like” and “love”) and comments to characterize political mobilization networks. Results Findings show that alternative tobacco industry employees were more likely to engage within these networks and that these employees were also more likely to be influential members (ie, be more active) in the network. Comparisons between subnetworks show that communication within the local alternative tobacco advocacy group network was less dense and more centralized in contrast to a national advocacy group that had overall higher levels of engagement among members. A timeline analysis found that a higher number of influential posts that disseminated widely across networks occurred during e-cigarette–related legislative events, suggesting strategic online engagement and increased mobilization of online activity for the purposes of influencing policy outcomes. Conclusions Results from this study provide important insights into how tobacco industry–related advocacy groups leverage the Facebook platform to mobilize their online constituents in an effort to influence public perceptions and coordinate to defeat tobacco control efforts at the local, state, and federal level. Study results reveal one part of a vast network of socially enabled alternative tobacco industry actors and constituents that use Facebook as a mobilization point to support goals of the alternative tobacco industry.

scholarly journals Exceeding WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Obligations: Nepal Overcoming Tobacco Industry Interference to Enact a Comprehensive Tobacco Control Policy

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 2213-2223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dharma N Bhatta ◽  
Stella Bialous ◽  
Eric Crosbie ◽  
Stanton Glantz
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Tobacco Industry ◽  
International Health ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Political Transition ◽  
Tobacco Control Policy ◽  
Control Law ◽  
International Agencies

Abstract Background The tobacco industry works to block, delay, and weaken national tobacco control legislation to implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This article reviews how Nepal overcame industry opposition and to a comprehensive tobacco control law implementing the FCTC. Methods We triangulated newspaper articles and policy documents with key informant interviews. Results With the support of international health groups, local tobacco control advocates worked with policymakers in Nepal to pass a comprehensive tobacco control law that exceeded FCTC obligations. The tobacco industry exploited a time of political transition to block consideration by Parliament, arranged and sponsored foreign tours for legislators, made death threats to tobacco control advocates and their families, and argued for the economic importance of tobacco farms. Despite strong interference from Health, and Law and Justice ministers, a 2009 Supreme Court ruling helped tobacco control advocates secure a comprehensive tobacco control law in 2011 that included rotating pictorial health warning labels covering 75% of both sides of cigarette packages, 100% smoke free public places and workplaces, private homes and vehicles, and a tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship ban. Conclusions Advocates in developing countries should utilize Nepal's experience to reject tobacco industry offers of compromise and continue educating politicians and legislators to generate political support to pass a comprehensive tobacco control law. Technical and financial support from international agencies, and effective collaboration and coordination of civil societies, and utilization of domestic litigation are helpful in LMICs where governance is weak (the abstract in Nepali is available as a Supplementary Material). Implications The tobacco industry exploited a time of political transition in Nepal in its effort to block comprehensive tobacco control policy in Parliament by sponsoring foreign tours of legislatures, making death threats to tobacco control advocates and their families, and arguing for the economic importance of tobacco farms. Tobacco control advocates used litigation to raise awareness and educate legislators and promote strong legislation with the involvement of international health groups. Technical and financial support from international agencies, and effective collaboration and coordination of civil societies, and utilization of domestic litigation are helpful in LMICs where governance is weak.

scholarly journals Using market data to understand corporate behaviour

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Hiscock
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Tobacco Industry ◽  
National Level ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
Tobacco Product ◽  
Tobacco Control Policy ◽  
Market Data ◽  
Tobacco Taxes ◽  
Level Statistics ◽  
Product Sales

Abstract Background Tobacco companies sell tobacco in order to invest in the business and make profits for shareholders. One element in creating profitability is via data driven marketing. Such data are also useful for public health because an understanding of pricing and sales patterns can help with the development of effective tobacco control methods by understanding how the tobacco industry is making profits. Methods Study 1) Public and commercial databases which provide free or paywalled access to market data were identified. Internet searches were conducted to understand more about their ownership, mission of the owners, funding and accessibility Study 2) University of Bath studies using such datasets to understand the tobacco industry were reviewed to synergise the ways in which corporate behaviour has undermined tobacco control policy. Results The United Nations provides freely accessible national level statistics on imports and exports of raw tobacco and manufactured tobacco products. Limited survey data may be available on the last product smoked. Proprietary databases are expensive, may have usage restrictions and links to the tobacco industry but can provide a detailed picture of tobacco product sales and prices. Research on such databases has illustrated how the tobacco industry kept cheap tobacco available despite tobacco taxes, used tax rises to increase their own revenue and used a standardised packaging sell through period to keep branded packs on the market for longer. Conclusions Governments should require the tobacco industry to provide market data in an easily publishable form Key messages The most detailed data on the tobacco market is proprietary. Proprietary databases are expensive, may have usage restrictions and links to the tobacco industry. Understanding of pricing and sales patterns can help with evaluating the effectiveness of tobacco control policy.

scholarly journals Impact of Collective Trademarks in Mexican artisanal cheesemakers

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Andrea Agudelo-López ◽  
Fernando Cervantes-Escoto ◽  
Alfredo Cesín-Vargas ◽  
María Isabel Palacios-Rangel ◽  
Angélica Espinoza-Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Negotiation Process ◽  
The State ◽  
Strategic Networks ◽  
External Actors ◽  
Depth Interviews

Processes related to Collective Trademarks (CTMs), and the state of social friendship, productive support, and strategic networks, were studied for three different artisanal cheesemaker groups: Queso Bola de Ocosingo with an inactive CTM, Queso de Poro de Balancán, with an active CTM, and Quesillo de Reyes Etla, with a CTM undergoing its negotiation process. The influence of negotiation and operation of CTMs as consolidation strategies of three Mexican artisanal cheesemakers was analyzed through a mixed investigation involving in-depth interviews, social network analysis, and quantitative information. The research indicated that networks are small with scarce interaction among the actors, and, where collective strategies have not been induced, the networks are more disconnected and show a higher proportion of isolated nodes. It is concluded that, when collective strategies come from external actors without the necessary accompaniment, they tend to fail because their actions are supported by temporal actors, impacting social relations among cheesemakers.

scholarly journals Using social network analysis to understand multisectoral governance in district-level tobacco control programme implementation in India

2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e006471
Author(s):  
Shinjini Mondal ◽  
Upendra Bhojani ◽  
Samntha Lobbo ◽  
Susan Law ◽  
Antonia Maioni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Visual Learning ◽  
Control Cell ◽  
District Level ◽  
Essential Components

IntroductionInterest in multisectoral policies has increased, particularly in the context of low-income and middle-income countries and efforts towards Sustainable Development Goals, with greater attention to understand effective strategies for implementation and governance. The study aimed to explore and map the composition and structure of a multisectoral initiative in tobacco control, identifying key factors engaged in policy implementation and their patterns of relationships in local-level networks in two districts in the state of Karnataka, India.MethodsSocial network analysis (SNA) was used to examine the structure of two district tobacco control networks with differences in compliance with the India’s national tobacco control law. The survey was administered to 108 respondents (n=51 and 57) in two districts, producing three distinct network maps about interaction, information-seeking and decision-making patterns within each district. The network measures of centrality, density, reciprocity, centralisation and E-I index were used to understand and compare across the two districts.ResultsMembers from the department of health, especially those in the District Tobacco Control Cell, were the most frequently consulted actors for information as they led district-level networks. The most common departments engaged beyond health were education, police and municipal. District 1’s network displayed high centralisation, with a district nodal officer who exercised a central role with the highest in-degree centrality. The district also exhibited greater density and reciprocity. District 2 showed a more dispersed pattern, where subdistrict health managers had higher betweenness centrality and acted as brokers in the network.ConclusionCollaboration and cooperation among sectors and departments are essential components of multisectoral policy. SNA provides a mechanism to uncover the nature of relationships and key actors in collaborative dynamics. It can be used as a visual learning tool for policy planners and implementers to understand the structure of actual implementation and concentrate their efforts to improve and enhance collaboration.

scholarly journals Dinámica y efectividad de las fanpages de Facebook de candidatos a gobernador en los resultados electorales

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (26) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Augusto Jiménez Zarate
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
The State ◽  
Redes Sociales ◽  
Nuevo Leon ◽  
Metric Analysis ◽  
Nuevo León ◽  
Object Of Study

Abstract: In this article analyzes from the perspective of social network analysis, the correlation between metrics structures sampled networks of Facebook fanpage's candidates for governor and the percentage of voting reached. Were taken as an object of study the elections for governor of Nuevo Leon in 2015 and the election for governor of the state of Veracruz in 2016, in Mexico. This research brings us closer to the understanding of the dynamics and effectiveness of fanpage's in election campaigns.Keywords: fanpage, graphic and metric analysis , social networks, votingJEL: Y1, C88Resumen: En el presente artículo se revisa desde un enfoque de análisis de redes sociales, la correlación entre las métricas de las estructuras de redes muestreadas de las fanpage´s de Facebook de candidatos a gobernador y el porcentaje de votación alcanzado. Se tomaron como objeto de estudio las elecciones para gobernador del estado de Nuevo León del 2015 y la elección para gobernador del estado de Veracruz del 2016, en México. La presente investigación nos acerca a la compresión de la dinámica y efectividad de las fanpage´s en las campañas electoralesPalabras clave: análisis gráfico y métricas, fanpage, redes sociales, votación

‘We have a rich heritage and, we believe, a bright future’: how transnational tobacco companies are using Twitter to oppose policy and shape their public identity

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Watts ◽  
Marita Hefler ◽  
Becky Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Tobacco Industry ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
Tobacco Control Policy ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Public Identity ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Japan Tobacco ◽  
Responsible Business Practices ◽  
Transnational Tobacco Companies

BackgroundThe tobacco industry has a long history of opposing tobacco control policy and promoting socially responsible business practices. With the rise of social media platforms, like Twitter, the tobacco industry is enabled to readily and easily communicate these messages.MethodsAll tweets published by the primary corporate Twitter accounts of British American Tobacco (BAT), Imperial Brands PLC (Imperial), Philip Morris International (PMI) and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) were downloaded in May 2017 and manually coded under 30 topic categories.ResultsA total of 3301 tweets across the four accounts were analysed. Overall, the most prominent categories of tweets were topics that opposed or critiqued tobacco control policies (36.3% of BAT’s tweets, 35.1% of Imperial’s tweets, 34.0% of JTI’s tweets and 9.6% of PMI’s tweets). All companies consistently tweeted to promote an image of being socially and environmentally responsible. Tweets of this nature comprised 29.1% of PMI’s tweets, 20.9% of JTI’s tweets, 18.4% of Imperial’s tweets and 18.4% of BAT’s tweets. BAT, Imperial, JTI and PMI also frequently used Twitter to advertise career opportunities, highlight employee benefits, promote positive working environments and bring attention to awards and certifications that the company had received (11.6%, 11.1%, 19.3% and 45.7% of the total tweets published by each account, respectively).ConclusionsTransnational tobacco companies are using Twitter to oppose tobacco control policy and shape their public identity by promoting corporate social responsibility initiatives in violation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Regulation of the tobacco industry’s global online activities is required.

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