BACKGROUND: Youth in Bangladesh are increasingly exposed to tobacco and alcohol use through media, particularly OTT platforms like Chorki, Hoichoi, and Netflix. This exposure poses a significant public health concern, as media often glamorizes such behaviors without including required health warnings. Our survey identifies violations of the Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Law, 2005 (amended 2013) within OTT content, providing evidence-based insights for policy interventions.
METHODS: This study was conducted by MANAS in collaboration with the International University of Business and Technology (IUBAT) and involved 15 nursing students who observed 60 Over-the-Top (OTT) program contents. The content included 15 Bangla dramas, 15 Bangla movies, 15 Hindi, and 15 English movies. Prior to data collection, participants attended an orientation session. Subsequently, they used a 16-question survey form, accessed through the Kobo Toolbox platform, to document instances of tobacco and alcohol portrayals, assess compliance with health warning requirements (where applicable), and evaluate the necessity of such scenes within the respective storylines.
RESULTS: Survey Result
Category:
Law Violations:
Bangla Dramas 6 out of 15
Bangla Movies 13 out of 15
Hindi Movies All 15
English Movies 12 out of 15
Health Warnings-
Programs Displaying Health warnings 12 out of 60
Context of Tobacco/ Alcohol Use-
Partying - 25%
Mental Stress - 23%
Group Chats - 22%
Character Depictions -
Smoking/Drinking Instances:
Actor in lead role (male) 33
Actor in lead role (female) 19
Actor in negative role 12
Actors in Supporting Characters 21
Smoking/Drinking scenes-
Unnecessary for storyline 80% agreed
Scenes influence youth 100% agreed
CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasize the need for stricter tobacco control laws on OTT platforms. Prominent health warnings are necessary, and clear guidelines should protect young audiences from harmful influences in digital media. The report urges policymakers to address these gaps, ensuring OTT platforms adhere to the same standards as traditional media.