Through its automatic web of connections, the humble hashtag has
been repurposed: it's now associated with the cachet of
internet fame. In social media platforms the hashtag brings users
from one descriptor to thousands of associated results. It has
evolved into a key that opens doors for political activism, news
coverage, and interest groups, as well as marketing and
advertising.
How did this all start? From as far back as the late 1980s some
computer users used the "#" symbol as a way to categorize
and search content. Twitter borrowed the concept in 2007, and its
utility was really seen when Twitter hyperlinked all posts using
the same # symbol. Other social media platforms soon followed suit,
including Google, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. With social
media exploding as a platform for business promotion, the hashtag
evolved from a tool to organize information into a valuable
marketing asset. With the right hashtag, consumers will not only
use your product or
