Today, Explained Is smoking back?
66 snips
May 8, 2026 
Sarah Todd, a reporter who covers tobacco and health, and Marnie Rose McFall, a culture reporter tracking Gen Z trends, dig into smoking's visual comeback. They explore Gen Z’s fascination with cigarette imagery, smoking in media and fashion, social drivers like COVID and wellness backlash, and how nicotine is being reframed in pop culture.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Smoking As A Gen Z Aesthetic
- Gen Z's smoking revival is more about aesthetics and online imagery than widespread increased smoking rates.
- Marnie Rose McFall cites a 70% rise in Pinterest searches for "smoking pose" and celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter fueling the trend.
How COVID Brought Smoking Back Socially
- Smoking re-emerged as a social activity during COVID because people gathered outside and needed something to do with their hands.
- Marnie Rose McFall describes friends stepping outside to smoke and carrying lighters to spark conversations at bars.
Pop Culture Visibility Versus Actual Smoking Rates
- National data show young adults are smoking less overall despite pop-culture visibility.
- Sarah Todd references CDC data where 18–24 smoking prevalence is lower than older age groups.