An Investigation of Age-Differentiated Conversations About Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems on Reddit
Mario A. Navarro, PhD,
Andrea Malterud, PhD,
Zachary P. Cahn, PhD,
Laura Baum, MA, MPH,
Thomas Bukowski, MPA, MA,
Caroline Kery, MS,
Robert F. Chew, MS,
Annice E. Kim, PhD
Affiliations
Mario A. Navarro, PhD
Office of Health Communication and Education, Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, Maryland; Address correspondence to: Mario A. Navarro, PhD, Office of Health Communication and Education, Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring MD 20993.
Andrea Malterud, PhD
Office of Health Communication and Education, Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, Maryland
Zachary P. Cahn, PhD
Office of Health Communication and Education, Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, Maryland
Laura Baum, MA, MPH
Center for Health Analytics, Media, and Policy, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Thomas Bukowski, MPA, MA
Center for Health Analytics, Media, and Policy, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Caroline Kery, MS
Center for Data Science, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Robert F. Chew, MS
Center for Data Science, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Annice E. Kim, PhD
Center for Health Analytics, Media, and Policy, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Introduction: This study analyzes age-differentiated Reddit conversations about ENDS. Methods: This study combines 2 methods to (1) predict Reddit users’ age into 2 categories (13–20 years [underage] and 21–54 years [of legal age]) using a machine learning algorithm and (2) qualitatively code ENDS-related Reddit posts within the 2 groups. The 25 posts with the highest karma score (number of upvotes minus number of downvotes) for each keyword search (i.e., query) and each predicted age group were qualitatively coded. Results: Of 9, the top 3 topics that emerged were flavor restriction policies, Tobacco 21 policies, and use. Opposition to flavor restriction policies was a prominent subcategory for both groups but was more common in the 21–54 group. The 13–20 group was more likely to discuss opposition to minimum age laws as well as access to flavored ENDS products. The 21–54 group commonly mentioned general vaping use behavior. Conclusions: Users predicted to be in the underage group posted about different ENDS-related topics on Reddit than users predicted to be in the of-legal-age group.
