Have you every laughed at people who use hashtags in their Facebook post? Or are you one of those people? Being more involved with twitter daily than I am on Facebook I always got a good laugh out of people who used hashtags on Facebook; it was like they did not understand exactly what they are used for and the point in them.
I read an article this week that states Facebook is stealing the hashtag from Twitter. It is a simple symbol that is not owned by anyone. When Facebook users use the hashtag it will allow them to search posts with the same topic or tag. Facebook is looking at hashtags as money. With the ability to filter certain conversations to topics this will exceed the amount of ads being tailored to that topic which means more money for Facebook. Companies will want to buy ads for certain conversations that tailor to their company so when users search for that topic, it will show their ad.
Hashtags have become a popular thing not only for Twitter but Facebook’s Instagram. I use hashtag to gain followers and likes on Twitter and Instagram. I have also used it a couple of times to search for certain conversations that I wanted to see what people were talking about. I think that Facebook adopting the hashtag is a smart move. They might as well because people already use it in their posts with no point. So the ability to let people actually have a reason now, makes sense.
Russell Brandom at The Verg said, ” The hashtag can go wherever it wants. Nobody owns it. It’s free.” Of course Twitters hashtags are the most used and popular compared to other social media platforms. Do you think that Facebook taking on hashtags is a smart move? Do you think Facebook will eventually be the most popular hashtag platform?
I saw the Facebook hashtag announcement earlier this week, as well. Like you said, there are some that already use it and Twitter users would easily be able to make the transition. I know that working on LessThanUThink, I’m often asked to use a hashtag on Facebook to distinguish our OC branch from the UA branch. It looks a little strange when it doesn’t even link to anything. I think that, though it would be easy to get used to, the hashtag symbol shouldn’t have been chosen. There are so many other options that would’ve made Facebook stand out more like the * symbol. One of the things companies are always told is to stand out, not follow. Facebook should take a note.
I’ve never really used a hashtag on facebook, and before I got a twitter it always annoyed me when people did. Now that Facebook is going to start using a hashtag it honestly weirds me out… I wonder how they will do privacy settings, it will be interesting to see how this turns out.
I think that it is a smart move by Facebook to adopt the hashtag since it is so popular on Twitter and Instagram. However, I think that it will make Facebook a lot more like Twitter with people updating their statuses with hashtags constantly, which I think is really annoying.
I wrote a similar blog this week! It’s one of my biggest pet peeves when people use hashtags on platforms outside of Twitter. However, I don’t think that Twitter owns the hashtag, and I think it would be great for other platforms if people use it correctly. I can’t stand it when people hashtag long phrases or words that don’t even make sense. I think when used correctly, hashtags can be very effective for social media users and strategists.
March 20, 2013 at 4:32pm
I have never used hashtags on Facebook because I thought it was a Twitter thing. I don’t think that Facebook should start using hashtags because it originated from Twitter. When it comes to hashtags, I think that they should be short and not long because it can be more effective. Maybe Facebook should create their own type of hashtag.
I think Facebook using the hashtag shows a lack on innovation and that they are just following in Twitters footsteps. I know that the hashtag isn’t copyrighted by Twitter or anything, but its a big part of the platform. Sorry you missed out on it Facebook, but find your own.
I think that it makes sense for Facebook to incorporate hashtags, honestly. I know that I go to make posts on Facebook and a lot of time will find myself just typing out the hashtags just because I’m so used to Twitter. I think using an already established concept makes more sense than trying to teach people how to use something “new”.