Topics to Watch in the United States for July 2016
Discover each month which topics of conversations on Facebook are on the cusp of going mainstream.
CONTENTS
Time and again we’ve uncovered folks drawn to the warm embrace of the past, as what’s old has become new. In the US, the trend of nostalgia has taken a turn to the really, really, really old—ancient, in fact—as we see a continued yearning for simpler times and faith in simpler remedies. In our continued search for the next big thing in creative and product development, we’re looking back, way back. But first, a swift glance to the future and computers.
Chicken and waffles
Irresistibly savory and sweet, the seemingly once “faddy” fried chicken and waffles has had staying power. Today, when documenting food is as important as consuming it, this soul food staple is becoming a blank canvas for creative gourmands: we see it morph into breakfast sandwiches with eggs, waffle cones with ice cream and, of course, infused with sriracha. Regardless of form, chicken and waffles dishes are staking a long-term claim as the ultimate comfort food for those who require a (food) hug.
Associated Topics: Biscuits, Hamburgers, Hot wings, Macaroni and Cheese, Mashed potatoes, Pancakes, Restaurants, Strawberries, Waffles
Conversation Volume
Who's Driving the Conversation
Computer program
Even before a computer program beat a world-famous chess player, the ability of computer programs to outsmart humans has captured our imaginations (and fears!). But as programming becomes more mainstream, programs increasingly answer the questions of the masses. Let’s be honest, if you could program a computer to do anything, what would it do? Be the best at Texas hold 'em (done), compute who dies next in your favorite TV series (done), write a new episode of a 90s comedy (done). With many predicting a future where programming is accessible to one and all, the opportunities are endless.
Associated Topics: Atmostpheric noise, Cell Phone, Computers, Math, NT1, Operating Systems, Pictures, Programme informatique, Video Games, Watching TV
Conversation Volume
Who's Driving the Conversation
Gloss
Many women experimented with gloss as their first make-up, before growing into lipsticks. But as lips come to the forefront of culture and feeds, driven by celebrity pouts and make-up product lines, lip gloss is making a comeback. And with glosses getting innovative updates—less stickiness, longer lasting pigments and hues going brown, nude and natural—everybody's ready for a selfie.
Associated Topics: Apple, Berry, Blue, Cappuccino, Color, Honey, Rose, Lacquer, Lipstick, Sparkling wine, Varnish
Conversation Volume
Who's Driving the Conversation
Labdanum
Fragrance connoisseurs are rallying behind labdanum for its rich, leathery, smoky and sweet scent. A common component of increasingly popular amber scents, labdanum has been used by many high-end designer brands as well as the growing niche perfume industry. Derived from a sticky gum resin, the scent has come a long way since it was first cultivated by Mediterranean herders from the fur of goats and sheep that had grazed on citrus shrubs.
Associated Topics: Cologne, Cypriol, Essential Oils, Flowers, Herbs, "Jakarta, Indonesia" Lavender, Note (perfumery), Styrax, Tolu balsam
Conversation Volume
Who's Driving the Conversation
Monk fruit
The search for (a guiltless) sweetener is on. Enter monk fruit, also known as luo han guo, first discovered by 13th-century Chinese monks in the Guangzi province. Claimed to be 300 times sweeter than sugar, but without the calories or aftertaste, monk fruit sweetener is made through a laborious process that takes away the seeds and skin, crushes the fruit, then gathers the fruit’s juice. Touted for its minimal impact on blood sugar, monk fruit seems primed to grow in popularity as food allergies and diabetes rise.
Associated Topics: Aftertaste, Carrots, Chromium (III), Grapes, Mogroside, Pancakes, Pastry blender, Polydextrose, Pomegranates, Strawberries
Conversation Volume
Who's Driving the Conversation
White mulberry
These days, it seems like everyone loves a good berry—and health gurus looking to squeeze as much goodness into a small package as possible have found a new obsession. White mulberries were originally cultivated 4,000 years ago by the Chinese; today’s claims include reducing the risk of diabetes, lowered cholesterol and, of course, weight loss. Following the path of acai berries, goji berries and blueberries, white mulberries are taking their turn as the next superfood.
Associated Topics: Bearberry, Benzophenone, Centella, Herbs, Moraceae, Morus, Petroleum jelly, Plants, Red mulberries, Silkworm
Conversation Volume
Who's Driving the Conversation
Source: Based on Facebook internal data, US only, July 2015-2016.
About Topics to Watch
Topics to Watch are conversation topics that have shown early growth patterns similar to previous topics with long-term growth (such as kale). Because the conversations around Topics to Watch mirror the volume, variance and measures of past conversations that have shown long-term growth, we predict Topics to Watch will continue to grow in the future.
Based on early testing, we found that 8 of the 10 topics we identified in the past grew as predicted.