Generational Divide Over CBD Products

How one feels about CBD products can often be attributed to one’s age, according to a new, two-year study from marketing agency Colman Brohan & Davis, Inc. (CBD Marketing) that shines a spotlight on generational differences in the use of non-THC CBD and CBD-infused products . The study also focuses on the important role social media plays in influencing how the “CBD experience” is shared online with friends and communities of interest.

The new report, “How Online Word-of-Mouth is Influencing Generational Preferences in the Use of CBD,” analyzes more than 3.5 million US social media posts and other online, user-generated content. The tracking started in January 2018 and concluded in January 2020. Content was divided almost evenly between women and men (55% vs. 45%).
 
“If you are a business with even a small footprint in the CBD product market, understanding the importance of online and social media channels is critical,” noted Liz Brohan, CEO of the Chicago-based marketing effort. “This is where consumers’ views are openly shared. With non-THC CBD products readily available across the country and sold online, it’s imperative for companies to understand how different generational groups talk about these products, leveraging those insights in product development and marketing. This study can help.”
 
This study is based on segregating content from Baby Boomers (age 56-74), Gen X (age 40-55) and Millennials.
 
Baby Boomers are “investigating” and looking for the facts, according to CBD Marketing.
 
While this is an important demographic age group, Boomers are less likely to be familiar with CBD products. Therefore, they are often looking for information and facts—about its legality as well as its efficacy for certain conditions. Many posts have to do with joint pain, inflammation and issues related to healthy aging. More than 51 percent of those who say they have tried CBD products report having an improved quality of life and attest to its “healing powers.”
  
Gen Xers are emerging fans, according to the company. 
 
Of the three age groups studied, Gen X had the fewest total posts about CBD products. A health literate generation, they are time pressed, often caring for children and aging parents. With typical middle-age maladies like weight gain and muscle loss, they are also the next generation looking for relief from joint pain and other conditions already being addressed by their Boomer cousins.  Gen Xers talk about very specific health benefits related to CBD use—relief from chronic pain, inflammation, reducing anxiety as well as skin care and beauty benefits and, importantly, no “high” feeling.
 
Millennials are already advocates, especially for mental health and wellness benefits.

Millennials have already overtaken Baby Boomers as the largest generational group. Millennials have amplified the market for all manner of health, wellness and lifestyle products described as natural, clean label and organic. They are more likely than their parents to talk about mental health, and they do so on social media, where 71% engage daily. Their comments often refer to CBD helping with anxiety and depression, and having a calming effect. Comments include “I finally feel normal now” and “it works wonders for people with severe anxiety like myself” in addition to posts about CBD products being a natural pain management solution.
 
Regardless of age grouping—people are actively sourcing recommendations and opinions about CBD products and CBD efficacy on social media platforms, review sites, blogs and other online forums. Over the two-year period, the amount of online conversations on this topic increased steadily, with the average number of tracked monthly conversations increasing from about 15,000 in the US in January of 2018 to more than 30,000 per month in December of 2019.  A peak month, May of 2019, recorded 60,000 posts.
 
Online conversations revolved around the following “top terms” related to certain end-use applications These included pain management (91% the posts are positive);  mental health (90% of the posts are positive) and general health, wellness and beauty (92% of the posts are positive), followed by food/beverage and pet care/treatments.
 
“It’s clear that CBD products have taken the mainstream health, wellness, beauty and food industries by storm. With the market continuing to evolve, now’s the time to learn as much as possible about consumer behavior and motivations in order to prepare for the growth that is as inevitable as it is exciting,” Brohan concludes.
 
According to Brightfield Research, U.S. CBD sales of $23.7 billion are expected by 2023, up from about $620 million in 2018. That’s a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 107%.