If there’s one thing Gen Z loves, it’s vaping. They love bright, flashy colors and all kinds of flavors. They vape on the way to school, while scrolling through their phones, while hanging out after school — it’s endless. However, it seems like they finally might be ready to stop, at least for a while. It’s not because they realize how unhealthy vaping is, however — it’s actually because they want to show solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Wait, what does the Congo have to do with vapes?
Basically, a lot of the modern electronics we all use, from laptops and smartphones to, yes, disposable vapes, are powered by cobalt.
Most of the world’s cobalt is mined in the Congo, and as you can probably imagine, conditions for the workers who mine it are horrific.
As a result, many Gen Z vape lovers believe the right thing to do is to cut out vaping to show they don’t support what’s happening in the country.
TikTok creator Kristina vowed to quit after she learned what’s really going on.
@itskristinamf #freecongo i have been reposting more information on this topic maybe i sound insane idgaf anymore this world is insane and i dont wanna contribute any more to it
After hearing that the cobalt mines in the Congo use child labor and treat workers like slaves with not even the most basic human rights.
According to Kristina, our rampant consumerism in America is what’s driving these awful conditions, and she’d had enough.
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She was “disgusted” to discover what was really happening.
Kristina pointed out in her video that she doesn’t replace her laptops, phones, or other electronics very often, but her disposable vapes were a constant purchase.
“The only thing I genuinely buy all the time is my vape, which has cobalt in it. My vape has literally the thing they mine in it,” she said.
As a result, she decided she had to quit. “Look up what is going on in the Congo right now, and you look at your vape, I swear you’ll never see it the same,” she declared. “I’m going to quit vaping for the Congo.”
Lots of Gen Z followers joined in with her initiative.
After seeing Kristina’s videos, the comment section was flooded by followers who said they too would give up vaping to support social justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Ladies we are switching to cigarettes, do it for Congo,” one person wrote.
Another added, “I could never quit because I don’t want to, but for Congo I will.”
A third person declared, “Throwing mine away right now, Free Congo.”
