#whats the big deal with hashtags? #7

    So, what's the big deal with hashtags? Technically, hashtags were first used in 2007. An American blogger named Christopher Reaves Messina wrote a blog about using the pound symbol to group similar messages together. (LinkedIn) Since then, hashtags have been a regularly used term on social media. Hashtags have paved the way for modern-day search and information sharing. There's even a website out that's all about hashtags! It's called Hastag.org; even though this website has a membership, you can still use it to look up trending hashtags, popular, or even definitions of hashtags you might see out in the 'wild'. 

via: sproutsocial

    In the past few years, hashtags have been used for social, cultural, political, and professional purposes. Take into account the #MeToo movement. This was a game-changer for many women and men who were able to speak up about their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. With this hashtag becoming one of the most popular tags used, this allowed a law to be passed on December 7,2022, called the Speak Out Act. (burnetteshutt.law). Many social media users have used their voices via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and more to speak up about many issues worldwide. Yet hashtags have a dark side as well. These tags can lead many down a rabbit hole of misinformation and disinformation to spread among others. It's so easy for many to write a post and use popular hashtags and create almost a domino effect with that tag. Unfortunately, many tags being used to spread awareness would be taken over by other situations or misinformation. 

via: socialchamp

Besides that dark side of hashtags, there is just a cultural part of using social media. This is going to be in the history books soon enough. Hashtags will be around for a long time or for however long the internet will be. I used hashtags when I started using social media, but now I don't use them as often as many other users do. I believe hashtags have been very effective in terms of cultural, social, and political significance. Just think if we didn't have Myspace or group chats on the Internet, we might not have used hashtags. The pound symbol could be used to press when contacting the doctors.