Are Hashtags Dead? (Spoiler: No - But They’ve Changed)
Are Hashtags Dead? Not quite. They’ve just grown up.
A pragmatic, platform-by-platform guide to using hashtags as taxonomy + context — not as a magic growth hack.
TL;DR
Hashtags aren’t dead. They’re just overrated on some platforms (like X) and still powerful elsewhere when used for categorization and context.
What Changed?
- Algorithms matured: AI ranks by watch time, saves, and dwell, not tags alone.
- Keyword context matters: Captions, audio, and visuals now carry stronger SEO weight.
- Spam fatigue: Over-tagging looks messy and can hurt perception.
Platform-by-Platform Reality Check
Hashtags still help, but relevancy beats quantity. Think 5–10 well-chosen niche or branded tags.
TikTok
TikTok’s algorithm reads hashtags for topic signals. Use 3–5 max—trend + niche + branded mix.
X (Twitter)
Use sparingly. Hashtags act more like labels. Two max is enough—if they add clarity.
LinkedIn, YouTube & Facebook
Light and relevant use—these platforms now rely on contextual search more than tag parsing.
Your Hashtag Operating System
1. Define Buckets (Taxonomy)
Create 4–6 content categories with 3–5 anchor tags each.
Example: #DigitalMarketing #SaaSGrowth #FounderNotes
2. Compose Each Post
- 1–2 anchor tags
- 1–2 niche tags
- Optional branded tag
3. Accessibility & Etiquette
- Use #PascalCase for readability
- Place at end unless natural inline
- No trend hijacking
4. Measure What Matters
Track discovery, quality, and action metrics—not vanity likes.
Quick Reference
| Platform | Recommended Count | Primary Role |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10 | Keyword categorization | |
| TikTok | 3–5 | Trend + topic signal |
| X | 0–2 | Contextual labels |
| 2–5 | Followable topics | |
| YouTube | 1–3 | Supplementary metadata |
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Final Thought
Hashtags haven’t died—they’ve matured. Use them as structured context so the right people can find the right ideas. Growth now comes from fundamentals: clear content, consistent posting, and systems like Postly and Onu that help you stay intentional.