Facebook Users Talked Up Biomaterial in April, According to Facebook IQ

Facebook users were blinded by science in April, as biomaterial was one of Facebook IQ’s Topics to Watch for the month. Biomaterial and associated topics organ printing, simple machine, polymer, biological engineering, molecule, Cornell University, tissue, organ (anatomy) and DNA saw conversation volume rise 3.4 times year-over-year and 2.9 times from March, driven mostly by men 35 and up. Facebook IQ wrote, “Biomaterials are most commonly used in the medical field, and they’re intended to treat, repair or replace bones, organs or tissue. In April, scientists found a way to create a biomaterial that has a metabolism, meaning it can compose and decompose itself. In the future, these types of technologically advanced biomaterials could aid in regenerating organs and tissue. Interest in medical research seems to be growing, and biomaterials appear to be one of the next big frontiers in the field.” [kickout id="1"] [kickout id="2"] Women 35 through 49 were the driving force behind a spike in discussion about cuajada and associated topics queso, leche, pan, quesillo, pupusa, empanada, ricotta, El Salvador and Chile. Conversation volume was up 4.9 times compared with April 2018 and 0.9 times month-over-month. The social network’s research arm wrote, “A creamy type of cheese that’s popular in Spain and Central and South America, cuajada is made from milk and rennet. This cheese is commonly eaten for breakfast or as a dessert, paired with honey, walnuts, fruit or even caramel. It’s also incorporated into other dishes, like pupusas, which are corn tortillas stuffed with cuajada. While cuajada is not readily available in the U.S. just yet, demand for it seems to be growing as people share recipes on Facebook.” [kickout id="3"] [kickout id="4"] Conversation volume around decade on Facebook was up 4.3 times year-over-year and 0.9 times month-over-month in April, with no particular gender or age group really standing out, save for men 50 through 64. Associated topics included millennium, moment (time), 1970s, 1980s, Ricardo Arjona, Reprise Records, Neil Young, century, year and life. Facebook IQ wrote, “With hashtags like #throwbackthursday and #flashbackfriday, nostalgia has always been popular on social media. The latest trend is #10yearschallenge, in which people share images of themselves from a decade ago and comment on how they’ve changed since then. This nostalgia seems to be spreading, as people revisit fashion, music and other cultural trends from the past decade and rediscover fads they used to partake in—and may still have an affinity for.” [kickout id="5"] [kickout id="6"] Facebookers also thought about getting fit without having to actually go to the gym, as men 25 through 49 powered conversation about exercise machine and associated topics elliptical trainer, Life Fitness, exercise equipment, treadmill, fitness, ProForm, NordicTrack, Gold’s Gym, aerobic exercise and Southern California. Conversation volume was up 3.2 times compared with April 2018 and 0.7 times versus March. The social network’s research arm wrote, “At-home exercise machines are by no means new, but they’ve become smarter in recent years. New equipment offers people the ability to take virtual workout classes without having to leave their homes. Fitness companies have even built online communities around their classes, so that people can continue to benefit from the social aspects of working out. Similar to a gym membership, subscribers can pay monthly subscription fees to access classes, and the at-home machines have everything needed to make the most of a workout. As people seek out more convenient and personalized experiences, smart exercise machines are making working out easier—and smarter—than ever.” [kickout id="7"] [kickout id="8"] Getting the most out of their food was on the minds of Facebook users last month, as conversation volume about food energy and associated topics healthy eating, dietary supplement, human body weight, blood sugar level, diet, tat, calorie, sugar, food and eating was up two times year-over-year and 0.8 times month-over-month. Men 18 through 24 and women 35 through 64 provided slight pushes. Facebook IQ wrote, “People are increasingly reading the labels on their food, paying attention to the number of calories, or food energy, in everything they eat. New diets encourage people to reduce their caloric intake and instead maximize other types of nutrients, like fats and fiber. In an effort to stay fit, people seem to be adopting new health regimes—from working out more frequently to eating a more balanced diet that provides the right amount of food energy for their activities.” [kickout id="9"] [kickout id="10"] Finally, conversation volume in April about herbalism and associated topics dietary supplement, ginger, herbs, liver and U.S. was up 2.7 times from April 2018 and 1.5 times from March, driven largely by women 35 and older. The social network’s research arm wrote, “A broad category in alternative medicine, herbalism posits that many conditions can be treated with different types of natural ingredients. While most herbalist remedies haven’t been empirically validated, many have been used by communities around the world for generations. Some forms of herbalism—like traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine from India—are now making headway in the U.S. People nationwide appear to be discovering the possible benefits of natural treatments, finding practitioners and researching natural supplements.” [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.