Tech Culture News

Silicon Valley’s New Counterculture: Why Tech Founders Are Embracing Cigarettes

Despite a broader decline in US smoking rates, a niche counterculture of cigarette smokers is emerging among Silicon Valley tech founders and engineers. This trend is driven by the desire for authentic social bonding, a rejection of hyper-optimized wellness culture, and the influence of immigrant workers from regions with higher smoking prevalence. While smoking remains controversial in the health-obsessed tech sector, some view it as a signal of authenticity and a tool for informal networking.