Australia banned vape ads more than two years ago – so why are they still all over social media?
News Source
•Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:00:52 GMT
📰 What Happened
Australia banned vape ads over two years ago. But illegal sellers are still posting ads on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Guardian Australia found a network of accounts promoting nicotine-filled vapes to Australian viewers. The posts tell people to order through private messages or encrypted apps like WhatsApp. Many of the ads look similar. They use the same video clips and editing styles. This hints at some kind of coordination between sellers. Experts say the platforms are not doing enough to stop these ads. They are calling for tougher rules and bigger penalties.
🔍 The Backstory
Australia has some of the strictest tobacco and vaping laws in the world. The government banned vape ads to stop young people from picking up the habit. But social media makes it easy for sellers to get around the rules. They set up new accounts faster than platforms can take them down. Vaping has been linked to lung and oral cancer, according to Australian researchers. Public health groups have been pushing for tighter controls. The big question is who should be responsible for stopping these ads. Is it the government, the platforms, or both? So far the answer is still unclear.
🎯 Why It Matters
Teens and young Australians see these ads every day on their phones. If platforms do not act, illegal vape sales will keep growing and more young people may start vaping.
Australia banned vape ads over two years ago. But illegal sellers are still posting ads on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Guardian Australia found a network of accounts promoting nicotine-filled vapes to Australian viewers. The posts tell people to order through private messages or encrypted apps like WhatsApp. Many of the ads look similar. They use the same video clips and editing styles. This hints at some kind of coordination between sellers. Experts say the platforms are not doing enough to stop these ads. They are calling for tougher rules and bigger penalties.
Australia has some of the strictest tobacco and vaping laws in the world. The government banned vape ads to stop young people from picking up the habit. But social media makes it easy for sellers to get around the rules. They set up new accounts faster than platforms can take them down. Vaping has been linked to lung and oral cancer, according to Australian researchers. Public health groups have been pushing for tighter controls. The big question is who should be responsible for stopping these ads. Is it the government, the platforms, or both? So far the answer is still unclear.
Teens and young Australians see these ads every day on their phones. If platforms do not act, illegal vape sales will keep growing and more young people may start vaping.