Blog Entry # 7 What Do I Know About Hashtags?

 Hashtags have evolved over time. When I discovered the hashtag, it was used as a way to say a particular word or phrase in a hashtag format that somehow attracted others to the phrase or highlighted what you were saying. For example, when I was younger, there was #Mcm, which was a highlighted code abbreviation for Man crush Monday, then you would go on social media and put a photo of your celebrity crush with the hashtag. Other than the abbreviation, one would add a hashtag of a clever saying or something cheeky that they could hashtag. Someone could possibly write another hashtag like, "#hot" or "#I'msoinlove." Now hashtags are still used underneath posts on social media, but they are more of a way to manipulate the "algorithm" of social media. Hashtags are also a way to have multiple people using the same hashtag attract those with similar posts and interests. Another example would be if I hashtag "#Pumpkinspice," one could quickly access every other post that has the same hashtag.

   

I try not to be on social media as much these days; if I ever used a hashtag, it was mostly in a joking way. I think I posted a photo from 8th grade one time that said #rideordies. The post was from a field trip in middle school; it was probably the cringiest thing ever. I don't use hashtags anymore in the way that they were once used, but if I were a content creator I would probably use them a lot. I see how if one clicks on a hashtag, it could lead to other ideas and awareness about the topic hashtagged. I have also seen how the hashtag could create awareness politically and socially, like #MeToo and #Blacklivesmatter. Clicking on these hashtags could also boost awareness if used many times or virally on the internet, like they did. 

Like the photo above, hashtags are a way to gain and mostly promote ideas that groups of people with a desired goal want to create awareness about. These days, I mostly see them as a way to market and flood social media feeds with whatever they are promoting and making money off of. I think the hashtags are fulfilling this goal for digital promoters and content partners. They have fulfilled their goal for those who use hashtags for political agendas and social awareness, and I believe so too. Once a hashtag goes viral, anyone who uses the hashtag can participate in the whatever awareness the hashtag brings. I personally like to see hashtags that promote illnesses such as cancers, diseases, and addiction awareness as well.