Table 2.

Distribution of topics and relevant subthemes in the analytic set (n=2796)

Topics		Tweets, n		Corpus (%)		Topic (%)		Examplea
Health		632		22.6		100		[@] warns that HTPb and traditional cigarettes have similar amounts of nicotine and secondhand aerosol despite being marketed as better alternative
	Comparison to combustible tobacco	298	10.7		47.2		HTP health warnings should reflect their lower risks than cigarettes. Source: [URL] #VapeNews
	Comparison to ENDSc	126	4.5		19.9		[@] Nicotine vapes are undeniably safer than smoking and HNBd products that deliver fewer toxins/carcinogens. Few teens vape. Why is this not seen as a way to quit?
	Cessation	194	6.9		30.7		[@] I tried IQOS, very good for quitting cigarettes
Policy		809		28.9		100		Altria can’t sell IQOS in US since Biden administration stays out of patent dispute – CNBC: After deadline passed, Altria and PMI unable to sell/import IQOS devices in US [URL] #patentnews
	US-based policy: MRTPe	105	3.8		13.0		[@] After FDAf denied ‘modified risk’ order but PM marketed as one, FDA granted an ‘Exposure Modified’ order for #iQOS. No accountability? [@] response to [@] #IQOS order. [URL]
	US-based policy: Other	450	16.1		55.6		If cigarettes with low nicotine get a PMTAg, then all HTP or vaping HTP are bad joke.
	Non-US policy	244	8.7		30.2		In Japan, e-cigs are illegal, HTPs are legal. Of course HTP lowered cigarette sales. Do not fear. WHO is trying to reverse that by restricting HTP use.
HTP brand mentioned		2796		100		100
	IQOS	1838	65.7		65.7		My JUUL and IQOS witness my daily pack of cedars blue cigarettes [URL]
	Other brands	205	7.3		7.3		[URL] [@] will release new heated tobacco product Ploom X on Aug 17 at convenience stores in Japan and certain retail stores. Currently available for presale
	General HTPs	835	29.9		29.9		Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health advise the banning of HNB and e-cigarettes due to misleading lower health risks. These risks have been proven globally [URL]

^aNote: [@], [URL], and [Phone number] indicate redacted information.

^bHTP: heated tobacco product.

^cENDS: electronic nicotine delivery systems.

^dHNB: heat-not-burn.

^eMRTP: modified risk tobacco product.

^fFDA: Food and Drug Administration.

^gPMTA: premarket tobacco product authorization.