This paper describes two social influence perspectives of different tobacco use development. Normative social influence refers to the pressure applied by peer groups to make youth act in ways to achieve group acceptance. Often, this type of influence is present in situations where youth are confronted with explicit offers to use tobacco products. Informational social influence refers to the pressure applied for youth to adopt peer group opinions and values; for example, that using tobacco products is rewarding, reflects maturity, or is reasonably safe. Tobacco use develops as a function of normative social influence despite widely available information about negative physical and social consequences of use, as well as conflicting opinion regarding consequences of use within youths' peer groups; however, tobacco use is still considered an important behavioral means towards achieving group acceptance. Tobacco use develops as a function of informational social influence when there is not widely available information about consequences or most peer group members share information that is favorable toward use. School-based tobacco use prevention program strategies to counteract these two types of influence are discussed.