Bioluminescence Lit Up Facebook Conversation in December 2019

Facebook IQ’s list of Topics to Watch for December 2019 had a certain glow to it. The social network’s research arm said conversation about bioluminescence and associated topics animals, bacteria, camouflage, chemical reaction, Florida ocean, plankton, predation, Puerto Rico and Vieques (Puerto Rico) was up 9.3 times compared with December 2018 and 3.5 times versus November 2019, evenly represented across most age groups, with a slight edge toward women. Facebook IQ wrote, “Bioluminescence is the glow that emanates from certain types of living beings, such as jellyfish and plankton. This form of light has long fascinated nature enthusiasts and biologists and has recently gained the attention of medical researchers. In the past decade, researchers have found ways to create a bioluminescent protein that can make any cell glow. This protein has been used to help doctors track different types of diseases in the human body, enabling them to ‘tag’ cells and monitor their progress. The naturally occurring process of bioluminescence continues to inspire people looking to learn more about nature, as well as medical researchers.” [kickout id="1"] [kickout id="2"] Women 35 and older reached for a healthy snack last December, driving up discussion about celery 4.9 times year-over-year and 0.7 times month-over-month. Associated topics included bell pepper, black pepper, butter, cheddar cheese, cream, flour, onion, soup, tablespoon and teaspoon. The social network’s research arm wrote, “Celery was widely discussed in 2019, especially in the form of juice. Various celebrities and influencers touted its benefits, claiming that the juice could alleviate everything from memory loss to inflammation. While some of the benefits have been supported by science, many doctors and nutritionists have been speaking about the importance of consuming celery in its pure form instead of juicing it. This vegetable provides fiber and vitamins, and it’s naturally low in calories due to its high water content. While celery juice’s efficacy may still be up for debate, the vegetable itself is still sparking interest with people looking to manage their health and eat more plant-based foods.” [kickout id="3"] [kickout id="4"] Facebook users joined the club last month, as talk about fan club and associated topics Al Bundy, The Beatles, Chinese crested dog, CMA Music Festival, fandom, fundraising, Japan, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Studio Ghibli was up 6.1 times versus December 2018 and 0.7 times month-over-month. Women 18 through 24 and men 50 through 64 were responsible for the bulk of the growth. Facebook IQ wrote, “Fan clubs are growing in popularity, as people discover others who share their interest in everything from sports teams to dog breeds. In recent years, these groups have moved to Facebook, driving even more people around the world to participate in them. These forums are also evolving as the objects of fandom increasingly participate in the conversation; musicians, athletes and other celebrities are getting involved in these groups, providing behind-the-scenes access and answering questions. Online fan clubs are strengthening the bonds between fans and their interests and creating more opportunities for connection.” [kickout id="5"] [kickout id="6"] Men 18 through 34 drove nearly the entire conversation gain for gashapon and associated topics Akihabara, anime Bandai, Capcom USA, Godzilla, Japan, Kaiju, Mega Man Battle Network, Toho, vending machine and videogames. Discussion rose 5.6 times year-over-year and 0.7 times compared with November 2018. The social network’s research arm wrote, “Gashapon are Japanese toys dispensed from vending machines in small capsules. These toys may sound familiar to Americans who grew up purchasing trinkets from vending machines, but the Japanese varieties tend to be more detailed and designed for people of all ages. While gashapon are readily available in Japan, they’re now becoming accessible to worldwide audiences in the form of monthly subscription boxes. Some of these toys are even functional: A small air conditioner was recently sold in a gashapon form with only minor assembly required. Japanese culture is making its way to the U.S. in many forms, and gashapon is the latest trend to take off.” [kickout id="7"] [kickout id="8"] Men 50 and older shunned stereo for mono last month, driving discussion about monaural and associated topics album, The Beatles, gramophone record, The Kinks, “Lola,” remaster, The Rolling Stones, stereophonic sound and Universal Music Group up 6.8 times from December 2018 and 4.3 times compared with November 2018. The social network’s research arm wrote, “Monaural sound describes an experience where the same audio signals are delivered through each output, regardless of how many outputs there are. This differs from stereophonic sound, in which the audio signals are split across multiple channels. Many audiophiles argue that music is best listened to in a stereo format, as the layers in a mix are more easily discernible across multiple speakers. However, everyday listeners are increasingly gravitating toward solo wireless Bluetooth speakers, which generally deliver monaural sound. Separately, some music lovers are seeking out mono LPs, which were made prior to the early 1970s and were designed to be listened to through a single speaker. While monaural sound experiences can be less nuanced than stereophonic experiences, they’re increasingly appealing to both everyday listeners and music aficionados.” [kickout id="9"] [kickout id="10"] Finally, Facebookers turned to space last month, as discussion about Neptune and associated topics atmosphere, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, NASA, Pluto, Saturn, space probe, Uranus and Venus was up 4.3 times year-over-year and 1.1 times month-over-month. Men of all age groups dominated the conversation. Facebook IQ wrote, “Neptune is one of the most distant planets in our solar system, and it’s been rising in both astronomy and astrology conversations. On the astronomical front, scientists have recently detected that two of Neptune's 14 moons follow a unique pattern, seemingly dodging each other during their orbits around the planet. In the astrological sphere, people have been talking about the effects of Neptune’s retrograde, which concluded in 2019, and how the planet has affected the emotions and relationships of each star sign. Fascination with the solar system continues to grow, as fans of science and spirituality discover new information and interpretations of the stars and planets above.” [kickout id="11"] [kickout id="12"] We learned these things from Facebook IQ’s latest data chart called Topics to Watch, which is designed to help marketers know what subjects to look out for on the social network. The topics are based on trending data, and Adweek readers get an exclusive look at them each month.