Cocktail Shakers Shook Up Facebook in November, Becoming a Topic to Watch

Facebook users were mixing it up in November, as cocktail shakers were one of Facebook IQ’s Topics to Watch for the month. Cocktail shakers and related topics bar spoon, bartender, cocktail, cocktail strainer, lime, mojitos, muddler, non-alcoholic beverage, Pampered Chef and vodka saw conversation grow 3.2 times compared with November 2017 and 0.9 times versus October, with women 25 through 64 dominating the talk. Facebook IQ wrote, “With cocktail shakers, bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts can expertly mix together various liquids to create alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. Often crafted in stainless steel, these vessels are by no means new, but they're becoming increasingly trendy as mixology and do-it-yourself drink-making becomes more popular. People—and brands—are sharing video tutorials on making everything from mojitos to Mai Tais all year round. And cocktail-making kits are becoming an increasingly popular gift, incorporating the shakers, strainers and spoons that can allow anyone to craft even the most complex cocktails—all from the comfort of home.” [kickout id="1"] [kickout id="2"] Laughter was the best medicine for people 65 and on Facebook in November, as they caused the conversation volume about daily comic strip to climb 8.9 times compared with last November and 0.8 times month-over-month. Associated topics included Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes, cartoons, comic strip, comics, GoComics, Marvel, Momma, Six Chix and The Katzenjammer Kids. According to Facebook IQ, “Although many daily comic strips are no longer printed on a daily basis, they may be finding new life online. Film adaptations and TV shows are bringing classic comic characters back into the public eye, and people are returning to the comic strips that started it all. But rather than reading them in the newspaper, people are finding these vintage comics online and sharing them on social media, even in applications dedicated to presenting them in one place.” [kickout id="3"] [kickout id="4"] People on Facebook were also tuned in last month, as omnidirectional antenna—along with directional antenna, television antenna, antenna (radio), ultra high frequency, very high frequency, amplifier, high-definition television, hertz, Microphone and Wi-Fi—saw conversation volume jump 5.4 times year-over-year and double compared with October, driven largely by men 50 and older. The social network’s research arm wrote, “Omnidirectional antennas can pick up signals from all directions, and they're often used to pick up over-the-air TV. The latest models on the market are so powerful that they're even able to pick up HD content, allowing people to gain access to their favorite channels without having to pay for a full cable subscription. While people are increasingly embracing streaming services over traditional cable TV, many also seem to be looking for the best of both worlds, which omnidirectional antennas offer at a fraction of the cost of cable.” [kickout id="5"] [kickout id="6"] Positive feelings were in the November air, as positivism and associated topics the universe, power (social and political), spirituality, meditation, reality, Namaste, truth, happiness, God and love saw conversation skyrocket 42.5 times year-over-year and 1.2 times versus October, driven largely by women 35 and up. Facebook IQ wrote, “A philosophical theory that dates back to the mid-19th century, positivism proposes that logic and reason are the sole ways of understanding the universe. It encourages people to ground themselves in what can be proven by math and science. While people continue to discuss this theory and find merit in its analytical approach, people are also exploring spiritual approaches, too. There's a push and pull between the logical and the emotional, the rational and the spiritual, as people seek to be better understand the universe and the nature of truth.” [kickout id="7"] [kickout id="8"] People on Facebook had their cake and ate it, too, in November—specifically Russian tea cake, with conversation volume rising three times versus last November and 2.4 times compared with the prior month. Women 50 and older dominated the conversation, and related topics included teacake, vanilla extract, confectionary, pecan, flour, salt, butter, sugar, cookie and cake. According to Facebook IQ, “A traditional pastry with a number of names ranging from Mexican wedding cakes to snowball cookies, Russian tea cakes are a favorite during winter holidays and weddings alike. They're simple to prepare—requiring only flour, water, butter and nuts for their base, and sweetened by a delicate, powdered sugar coating. These treats may be tied to holidays, but people seem to be talking about them earlier each year, with conversations rising as early as September and growing steadily into November. Though a classic dessert, Russian tea cakes are growing in popularity, as people embrace traditional foods that are simple to prepare but satisfy their sweet tooth.” [kickout id="9"] [kickout id="10"] And the final frontier captivated men 50 and older on Facebook last month, as they propelled conversation volume about the Space Age and associated terms satellites, NASA, cosmic ray, solar minimum, sunspot, outer space, spacecraft, global warming, Earth and sun to a spike of 13.6 times year-over-year and 0.8 times month-over-month. Facebook IQ wrote, “The Space Age most commonly refers to the latter half of the 20th century, when space exploration and technological development were at their peak. Now, the term is returning again, as people refer to the recent, rising fascination with space. Private companies are promising to democratize space exploration in the years ahead by taking private citizens to the moon and maybe even Mars. We may be decades away from this actually coming to fruition, but the buzz about space only seems to be growing, as people imagine worlds beyond our own.” [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.