Entry #7: Hashtags

    Hashtags are like labels or tags people use on social media to organize and categorize their content. They start with a "#" symbol, followed by a word or phrase. When you click on a hashtag, it brings up all the posts related to that topic. Hashtags help discover new content, connect with similar people, and join in on trending conversations. The most common places to see hashtags these days are Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter (now called X).

    Personally, I don't use hashtags when I post on my social media, but I have used them before. For example, me and my friends created a TikTok account during our senior year of high school, just to have fun. When we were about to post our tiktoks, we added a couple of hashtags to help it go viral, like #fyp, #friends, #funny, #trending, etc. We also added a couple of hashtags in Spanish since our content was mostly in Spanish.

    When I see hashtags in my social media, I see how they relate culturally, politically, professionally, and socially. Hashtags are like a powerful tool that can start movements, spread awareness on important issues, and even influence elections. Also, they help businesses and people grow their brands and connect with their customers. They have created communities and brought people together over shared interests or causes. Even though they are not as trending and usual as back in the day, they are a way for voices to be heard and stories to be shared on a global stage.