Characterization of the online debate on electronic cigarettes in Brazil: A topic analysis of YouTube discussions

• Richardy R. Tanure UFOP
• Aline M. Dias UFOP
• Lucas A. Camelo UFOP
• Jussara Almeida UFMG
• Helen C. S. C. Lima UFOP
• Carlos H. G. Ferreira UFOP

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/brasnam.2025.8544

Abstract

YouTube is one of the most popular video-sharing platforms in Brazil, providing a dynamic environment for the dissemination of opinions on public health issues, including electronic cigarettes. In this context, this study aims to characterize the online debate about electronic cigarettes in Brazil by employing natural language processing techniques to perform topic analysis on comments from YouTube videos related to the subject. The dataset used includes over 285,000 comments on the topic, covering the period from early 2018 to the end of 2023. Our results identify multiple discussion topics, reflecting a diverse dynamic over the years. The discussion is polarized, with a predominance of topics favorable to the use of electronic cigarettes, but it also reveals strong disagreements on health and regulatory issues.

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