Juul, the USB drive–shaped e-cigarette gaining popularity among American youth, is a potent nicotine delivery device. But on the outside, it really doesn’t look like one.
Instead, it looks like a tech gadget. It’s discreet, intuitive, and comes in brightly colored flavors that mirror “collect them all” designs in kids’ products. And while those features might have been designed to provide a compelling alternative for2 adult smokers, they’ve wound up attracting young users in droves.
In the process, kids are getting hooked on a powerful nicotine product, like a fidget spinner that you can become chemically attached to. Teen smoking has been on the decline for decades, but e-cigarette use is now climbing, and it might be a pathway to using traditional cigarettes. The Juul’s design has been revolutionary for e-cigarettes — but its full impact on public health is yet to be seen.
Watch the video above to learn about Juul’s product design and what it means for public health. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to view all of our latest videos.
Will you support Vox’s explanatory journalism?
Most news outlets make their money through advertising or subscriptions. But when it comes to what we’re trying to do at Vox, there are a couple of big issues with relying on ads and subscriptions to keep the lights on:
First, advertising dollars go up and down with the economy. We often only know a few months out what our advertising revenue will be, which makes it hard to plan ahead.
Second, we’re not in the subscriptions business. Vox is here to help everyone understand the complex issues shaping the world — not just the people who can afford to pay for a subscription. We believe that’s an important part of building a more equal society. And we can’t do that if we have a paywall.
So even though advertising is still our biggest source of revenue, we also seek grants and reader support. (And no matter how our work is funded, we have strict guidelines on editorial independence.)
If you also believe that everyone deserves access to trusted high-quality information, will you make a gift to Vox today? Any amount helps.
Yes, I'll give $5/month
Yes, I'll give $5/month
We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and
Google Pay. You can also contribute via
