Do China's e-cigarette control policies work? A decade-long analysis of public discourse using an AI-integrated mixed-methods approach

Although China is strengthening its control over e-cigarettes, the results of our study indicate that this control remains limited. We advocate for more robust regulation of social media content, particularly concerning the management of celebrities and influencers, as well as the sharing of e-cigarette use experiences. However, the current regulatory framework enforced by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration has proven inadequate for widespread and effective governance. We suggest that regulatory authority be shared with public health agencies in order to better integrate e-cigarette regulation with broader public health objectives.