YouTube's top music videos rack up billions of views, but there's a troubling issue at hand: many of them glamorize smoking. These videos often show artists smoking or vaping in a cool, stylish way, making it look like a part of a trendy lifestyle. This can be really influential, especially for young viewers who look up to these musicians. For example, this popular music video by Kasey Musgraves’ song “Blowin’ Smoke” features the artist smoking, making it seem like a normal and even desirable thing to do.

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Studies show that seeing these behaviors in videos can make young people more likely to try smoking or vaping themselves. The flashy portrayal in these music videos can easily hide the serious health risks involved. Another music video by Bruno Mars and Anderson. Paak manages to still discuss smoking without showing any smoking or vaping, making the video more monetizable. Youtube videos with a higher monetization rate will typically have greater view counts i.e. larger audiences to influence. It's important for creators to think about the messages they're sending and for platforms to encourage content that promotes healthier choices. As viewers, we need to be aware of these influences and support content that encourages better habits. 

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