Study Finds Significant Racial Disparities in Exposure to Tobacco Advertisements on TV

In recent years, many studies have reported on demographic differences in tobacco use and tobacco-related health issues among American adults. Other research has revealed tobacco advertisements are more likely to appear in historically ethnic neighborhoods compared to White neighborhoods. A new study published in JAMA Network Open has revealed a similar racial disparity among tobacco advertisements on TV and streaming platforms. Compared to other racial groups, African Americans are significantly more likely to encounter tobacco marketing when watching traditional TV or using streaming platforms. The study authors examined a sample of 5,775 American adults who participated in the National Cancer Institute’s 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey. The survey asked participants to recall how often they noticed tobacco products being advertised, marketing, or promoted over the past three months in several different mediums, including TV and streaming platforms. The authors found roughly 12.4 percent of all participants reported exposure to tobacco-related advertisements when watching TV traditionally or via streaming platforms. However, exposure among Black Americans was 19.4 percent – the highest rate of exposure among all racial groups analyzed. High rates of exposure were also found among Americans aged 35-49 (13.4 percent), those with a high school education or less...