Social Media for Tobacco Smoking Cessation Intervention: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Social media platforms have the potential to reach large audiences and deliver intervention content in an interactive format. Yet, little is known about the efficacy of social media for smoking cessation treatment or which specific features best promote participant engagement and behavior change. This article seeks to evaluate the current literature on the use of social media interventions to support smoking cessation. Findings suggest that social media interventions are feasible and can be utilized effectively for smoking cessation treatment. Greater participant engagement with intervention content appears to be associated with positive changes in smoking behaviors in most, but not all studies reviewed. Smoking cessation interventions on social media hold promise to help smokers quit. Future randomized trials with longer follow-up intervals are needed to expand the current evidence base, as are studies that systematically investigate strategies to improve participant engagement with interventions.