Want To Give Up Smoking? Try Social Media

Struggling to quit smoking? Facebook and Twitter can help.

A new study claims young adults who use social media are twice as likely to quit compared to those who are more conservative in their approach.

"These finding suggest that the creators of public health campaigns need to evaluate how they use social media channels and social networks to improve health, especially with regards to younger demographics," said Bruce Baskerville the study's lead researcher.

The study showed that 32 percent of smokers who used Canadian Cancer Society's Break It Off app were able to give up smoking in three months compared to just about 14 percent of those who availed telephone based support. Young adults aged 19 to 29 have the highest rate of smoking in Canada.

"The reach of the campaign and findings on quitting success indicate that a digital/social media platform can complement the traditional SHL cessation service for young adult smokers seeking help to quit," researchers wrote in in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

"Traditional cessation services can have limited reach and this reduced visibility lessens their impact in a digital era. Because they are such heavy users of social media, these platforms provide an alternative and successful way of reaching smokers who are less likely to relate to other cessation programs," said Baskerville.