One of Sweden's largest e-cig forums on Facebook, Vape Club Sweden, was suddenly shut down on Monday. And in less than a moment, three years of discussions, answers to important questions and steamy pictures were gone forever.
"We lost all the aggregated information, tips and tricks, beginner's guides, links to instructional videos, live broadcasts and handchecks. And probably a lot of members. It's too much to list," says Teus Matteussonwho, together with Pontus Henriksson and several others, founded Vape Club Sweden, to Vejpkollen
"Very free forum"
Vape Club Sweden has existed for three years and, with over 3200 members, was one of Sweden's largest forums for e-cigarette users. The group started with the idea of a free forum, where the only rule was common sense, says the coil maker Teus Matteusson
"After there was a disagreement in another large group about what to do with hand checks, tips on shops and so on, we decided to start a new group. We had only one rule from the start: use common sense. There were a few more after a few incidents, but we have stuck to the rule that it should be free," says Teus Matteusson.
Mixed content - and conflicts
Vape Club has been a forum where questions about vejpning, smoking cessation and troublesome mods are mixed with posts from Swedish vejpshoppar. But the high ceilings have also created conflicts from time to time, says Teus Matteusson.
"Those who misbehave have been banned for a period, how long depends on what has happened. We have become strict there," he says.
Groups with similar names closed
What caused the shutdown is difficult to speculate, says Teus Matteusson. However, other vejpning-themed groups with similar names have also disappeared recently.
"Some time ago, Facebook was chasing illegal trading and we lifted buy and sell records to a new group. We had a few strikes before that, but the last one would be removed within a month. I guess they found something else wrong. We didn't get a proper explanation from Facebook as to why they shut us down and our appeal didn't go through.
Important information on e-cigarettes
Facebook forums have long been important sources of information on electronic cigarettes. Not only in Sweden. Some international forums have over 75 000 members.
"FB groups give us an important sense of community, even if we don't get along with everyone. But together we can overcome most things, we just have to work in the right direction," says Teus Matteusson.
Created new forum directly
And just a few hours after the closure, a new group was created: V@pe Club Sweden.
"We are starting with clean slates, a new leaf, so to speak. Many people feel that we are getting a new chance. Most of them will probably keep an extra eye out to make sure it's not the same again," says Teus Matteusson to Vejpkollen.
New, as well as old V@pe Club Sweden 18+, has a strict age limit of 18 years and requires applicants to answer questions before being admitted. You can find the link here:
How incredibly sad that Facebook doesn't realize the positive effect electronic cigarettes have on global public health.
But perhaps not so strange. Billions are being pumped into the pockets of lobbyists by the tobacco industry and, not to be forgotten, the pharmaceutical industry, which has a lot to lose from the lack of sales of ineffective weaning products.