Abstract
In recent years, the emerging electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) marketplace has shown great development prospects all over the world. Reddit, one of the most popular forums in the world, has a very large user group and thus great influence. This study aims to gain a systematic understanding of e-cigarette flavors based on data collected from Reddit. Flavor popularity, mixing, characteristics, trends, and brands are analyzed. Fruit flavors were mentioned the most (n = 15,720) among all the posts and were among the most popular flavors (n = 2902) used in mixed blends. Strawberry and vanilla flavors were the most popular for e-juice mixing. The number of posts discussing e-cigarette flavors has increased sharply since 2014. Mt. Baker Vapor and Hangen were the most popular brands discussed among users. Information posted on Reddit about e-cigarette flavors reflected consumers' interest in a variety of flavors. Our findings suggest that Reddit could be used for data mining and analysis of e-cigarette-related content. Understanding how e-cigarette consumers' view and utilize flavors within their vaping experience and how producers and marketers use social media to promote flavors and sell products could provide valuable information for regulatory decision-makers.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 14916-14935 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 20 2015 |
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Keywords
- e-cigarette flavor
- e-juice
- e-liquid
- social media
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Cite this
An Examination of Electronic Cigarette Content on Social Media : Analysis of E-Cigarette Flavor Content on Reddit. / Wang, Lei; Zhan, Yongcheng; Li, Qiudan; Zeng, Daniel D.; Leischow, Scott J.; Okamoto, Janet.
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 12, No. 11, 20.11.2015, p. 14916-14935.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An Examination of Electronic Cigarette Content on Social Media
T2 - Analysis of E-Cigarette Flavor Content on Reddit
AU - Wang, Lei
AU - Zhan, Yongcheng
AU - Li, Qiudan
AU - Zeng, Daniel D.
AU - Leischow, Scott J.
AU - Okamoto, Janet
PY - 2015/11/20
Y1 - 2015/11/20
N2 - In recent years, the emerging electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) marketplace has shown great development prospects all over the world. Reddit, one of the most popular forums in the world, has a very large user group and thus great influence. This study aims to gain a systematic understanding of e-cigarette flavors based on data collected from Reddit. Flavor popularity, mixing, characteristics, trends, and brands are analyzed. Fruit flavors were mentioned the most (n = 15,720) among all the posts and were among the most popular flavors (n = 2902) used in mixed blends. Strawberry and vanilla flavors were the most popular for e-juice mixing. The number of posts discussing e-cigarette flavors has increased sharply since 2014. Mt. Baker Vapor and Hangen were the most popular brands discussed among users. Information posted on Reddit about e-cigarette flavors reflected consumers' interest in a variety of flavors. Our findings suggest that Reddit could be used for data mining and analysis of e-cigarette-related content. Understanding how e-cigarette consumers' view and utilize flavors within their vaping experience and how producers and marketers use social media to promote flavors and sell products could provide valuable information for regulatory decision-makers.
AB - In recent years, the emerging electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) marketplace has shown great development prospects all over the world. Reddit, one of the most popular forums in the world, has a very large user group and thus great influence. This study aims to gain a systematic understanding of e-cigarette flavors based on data collected from Reddit. Flavor popularity, mixing, characteristics, trends, and brands are analyzed. Fruit flavors were mentioned the most (n = 15,720) among all the posts and were among the most popular flavors (n = 2902) used in mixed blends. Strawberry and vanilla flavors were the most popular for e-juice mixing. The number of posts discussing e-cigarette flavors has increased sharply since 2014. Mt. Baker Vapor and Hangen were the most popular brands discussed among users. Information posted on Reddit about e-cigarette flavors reflected consumers' interest in a variety of flavors. Our findings suggest that Reddit could be used for data mining and analysis of e-cigarette-related content. Understanding how e-cigarette consumers' view and utilize flavors within their vaping experience and how producers and marketers use social media to promote flavors and sell products could provide valuable information for regulatory decision-makers.
KW - e-cigarette flavor
KW - e-juice
KW - e-liquid
KW - Reddit
KW - social media
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85021858602&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85021858602&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph121114916
DO - 10.3390/ijerph121114916
M3 - Article
C2 - 26610541
AN - SCOPUS:85021858602
VL - 12
SP - 14916
EP - 14935
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
SN - 1661-7827
IS - 11
ER -