Vapouround Magazine Canada VMC ISSUE 1 | Page 52

FEATURES # # # # # UNDER THE INFLUENCE # Campaign looks to recruit social media influencers # By Gordon Stribling # “Canadians look for information from a variety of sources, and youth in particular are more likely to engage with other influencers beyond government, or health professionals” 52 | VMC # Social media influencers divide opinion. To the sceptic, they represent everything that is wrong with the much-maligned millennial generation. They preen and pose in front of the camera before posting their filtered shots to Instagram and caption them with lofty but meaningless hashtags like #wellpreneur. The fact that influencers can make a decent living out of doing seemingly very little at all adds further fuel to their detractors’ disdain. But to many, they represent opportunity and, dare I say, #inspiration and for every would- be reality TV star there are countless industry experts who have achieved success through tireless work and commitment to their passion. Now, as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the risks vaping could present to underage teenagers and young adult non-smokers, Health Canada is looking to recruit a contractor who, among other duties, will be tasked with finding social media influencers who can reach their target demographic. A Health Canada spokesperson said: “Canadians look for information from a variety of sources, and youth in particular are more likely to engage with other influencers beyond government, or health professionals.” #