Social Media Connection

Let’s talk about Twitter and those pesky little #hashtags for a minute…..

Twitter, the online social network where people can “tweet” thoughts in 140 characters or less, can #hashtag topics, can RT (retweet), “Reply” and “Favorite” another tweeters tweet, was again a major topic of discussion in the news this week. Facebook, (we won’t get into the specifics of all you can do on Facebook,) started hyperlinking #hashtags on individual and business profile pages. That’s big news. This means that Facebook is following a trending social media platform, and that #hashtags are now, essentially, everywhere.

So, what is a #hashtag anyway?!!? I’m glad you asked! I did a little research on the “evolution of the hashtag” and this is what I discovered:

First: Multiple Meanings
Yes, the # symbol is the pound AND the number sign. And now, the # symbol serves as Twitter’s topic categorization tool. VERY important to note: The British call the # symbol the “hash sign” and have for ….well…..since the beginning of time. 🙂

Second: Definition
Twitter defines hashtags as, “The # symbol… used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages.” According to one source, that organic creation can be attributed to Chris Messina, (NOT this Chris Messina.) In August 2007 Chris tweeted: how do you feel about using # (pound) for groups. As in #barcamp [msg]?” The practice of using hashtags to categorize topics and streams of information was more fully developed during the 2009-2010 Iranian election protests. Interested parties were able to follow the events by simply following tweets categorized by #IranElection, #Ahmadinejad, or #Tehran.

I think of #hashtags as subjects. What is the subject of your tweet? The #hashtag defines the subject of your tweet. I also see that the #hashtag provides a way to file, categorize, and find information. But, to complicate things a bit (because they weren’t complicated already) #hashtags have become so popular that people are now using them for humor. You will see tweets and Facebook posts that look like this: #hashtagsarefunny or #onlinechurchdirectoriesrock or even, #ineedacheeseburger. These humorous #hashtags are sometimes a form of self expression… #ifail #canttakemeanywhere #iloveadam are often individuals simply expressing their emotions in real time.

Third: Hyperlinking & Trending Topics
Twitter began hyperlinking hashtags in 2009 and started listing “trending topics” on their homepage in 2010.
Hyperlinking is creating the ability to directly link to a specific place on the internet. (Think of the clickable words, pictures and buttons on your computer screen!) Hyperlinking is a powerful tool for Twitter. It enables users to search for specific topics, popular conversations, events, brands or even social media chat rooms.
Trending Topics are those #hashtagged topics that are getting the most tweets and posts in real time. Trending topics can change hourly, or day to day.

Fourth: Facebook Joins In
Facebook started hyperlinking #hashtags in June, 2013. This means people can categorize their Facebook posts like they can on Twitter, and those #hashtags are hyperlinked to that topic on Twitter. (Don’t think about that too long. It’s confusing!)

Fifth: The Choice is Yours
If you don’t want to use the #hashtag, you don’t have to. You can still post your thoughts, pictures, activities of the day and your favorite scripture on Facebook, or on Twitter, without using the #hashtag. But, if you want to be part of a trending conversation, I encourage you to remember to add the #hashtag.

Try it. See if you like it. Let me know what you think!

If, by the way, you want to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, we would love the company!

Katy D.

Sources: