What Is a Hashtag? Less Useful Than It Was

In plain English

Hashtags were a discovery mechanism when platforms relied on following and manual browsing. Recommendation algorithms now do that work by reading the content itself.

Their remaining value is narrow: signalling topic to the platform, joining a genuine community or event, and internal categorisation of your own archive.

What to know

Categorises content

Originally for browsing by topic.

Declining discovery value

Algorithms read content directly now.

Community and event use

Where a real conversation is happening.

A few, not thirty

Long lists signal low quality to most platforms.

Why it matters

Hashtag strategy absorbs effort disproportionate to its effect. Three relevant ones are enough; the content itself determines distribution far more.

Common mistakes

×Thirty hashtags on every post.

×Irrelevant high-volume hashtags.

×Treating hashtag research as a substitute for good content.

×Assuming hashtags work the same on every platform.

FAQs

How many hashtags should I use?

Three to five relevant ones. Platform conventions vary; volume rarely helps.

Do hashtags still work?

For events and communities, yes. For general discovery, much less than they did.

WRITTEN BY TARIQ SALLAM

Marketing Consultant. Entrepreneur. Content Creator.

I'm a marketing consultant, entrepreneur and content creator. I help businesses grow through practical marketing, websites, SEO, content and AI.

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