Gen Z Puts Tanning Above Skin Cancer Prevention, With Only 25% Worried
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 25
Gen Z Puts Tanning Above Skin Cancer Prevention, With Only 25% Worried
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 25
Only 25% of Gen Z adults in an American Academy of Dermatology survey said they worry about getting skin cancer, while 20% said having a tan matters more than prevention.
That gap appears tied to a social-media tanning culture: TikTok posts from “tanfluencers” promote “tanmaxxing,” tanning beds and deliberate sun exposure despite longstanding medical warnings.
Dermatologists say the risks are clear—using tanning beds before age 35 raises melanoma risk by 75%—yet some young people seem to dismiss or question that advice.
The trend reflects a wider information clash around sun safety, with experts citing online misinformation and mixed public signals, including the FDA’s withdrawal of a proposal to ban tanning beds for minors.
Beyond defiance, what psychological drivers make Gen Z embrace tanning despite knowing the deadly risks?
While other nations ban indoor tanning, why does US policy lag in protecting youth from known carcinogens?