Updated
A hashtag is a keyword preceded by the hash symbol, for example #onlinemarketing. It makes social media posts on a topic easy to find and links them together.
Where hashtags come from
Chris Messina proposed the first hashtag on Twitter in 2007. Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok adopted it later.
What hashtags are for
- Linking posts to a topic or event.
- Grouping campaigns and brand activities, for example with your own branded hashtag.
- Collecting content from customers, see UGC.
How to use hashtags today
A few relevant hashtags work better than long lists. Platforms now understand content mainly through text, images and video, so hashtags matter less than they used to. A clear caption with relevant terms often brings more reach than twenty hashtags.
Further reading: Social media algorithms in 2026.
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