Facebook has hashtags! Yeah, hashtags… those words that have the number sign before them and you probably have seen them on Twitter and Instagram. Well, now they are on Facebook. Facebook introduced hashtags in a newsroom memo on June 12, 2013.
The purpose of using the hashtags are very much the same reason that people use them on Twitter – a more focused search. Hashtags are the keywords people can search, and track trends. Just like with Twitter and Instagram, with Facebook, you will be able to click on the hashtag as they will be linked to the search feed results.
Those who used hashtags on Facebook prior to Facebook rolling this feature out are in luck because those posts will be searchable. You were already ahead of the curve. I bet that makes some of you social media divas want to dance with joy.
Back in March 2013, the Wall Street Journal got the skinny Facebook hinting to integrate the hashtag feature into their system. On June 12, 2013, many tech, main media, and social media sites covered the event, including TechCrunch in their article Facebook Announces Searchable Hashtags, Promises More Features For Following Public Conversations. Until recently, you could only search for things like people, places, pages (like fan pages), applications (games and more), media, and interest lists. And yes, even on the Search Graph.
For bloggers, this could mean sharing posts and tacking on a relevant hashtag that is searchable in order to gain site exposure. However, this is something that will not have immediate results since the Facebook hashtag is new. You may have to wait some time until it catches on with other users.
One of the biggest worries is that the hashtag system will be abused, as it has been on Twitter by many users. However, it is up to the user to search and choose to click the most logical result. I imagine Facebook will probably get people reporting abuse of hashtags for spamming and other nonsense. However, in the age of technology, it has become a normal part of life.
How do you feel about this addition to Facebook? Were you already using hashtags prior to Facebook introducing it? Will you use the hashtag feature to search and track trends?
Hi Nile,
Hashtags are a common feature on services like Twitter and are integral to keeping up with the flow of commentary on subjects that matter to people.
For Facebook users, it will be potentially transformative. Shifting the discovery of content from what happens to land in a user’s news feed to actively finding people discussing subjects that matter outside the friends list. I haven’t used it yet, though.
this made facebook even better..feels great to see the no 1 website of the world undergoing changes and getting updated constantly ..facebook’s hashtags would affect twitter much.
Regards,
pramod
There seem to be no difference between any social network nowaday. They seem to be copying each other.
I am very excited for this new feature that will make life very easier for all of us marketers who use Facebook religiously and wanted it to be more integrated with other popular social media. Thanks for sharing the news!
Hi Nile,
a while ago I heard about this and thank you for announcing the news that hasthtags are now in use.
This will probably make it easier to find more easily what we are looking for, as well as getting our content found.
I will post this on Facebook and add #Hashtag, so it will be found!
Cheers,
Yorinda
that would make sense as people go to Facebook to discuss things, With hash tags you will he able to view all your friends and pages posts about a certain subject. So that way you can just search #EventNameHere to find out what your friends think of it, and not have to scroll through statuses about people’s breakfast.
Hi Nile,
I wasn’t aware that Facebook has introduced hashtag feature, it’s certainly a great step as we’re already used to of hashtags because of twitter. I’m sure lot of people would love to use this feature.
At first it was Twitter, then Instagram and now hashtags are present in FB too. If it will make searching for particular topic easy, then I’m okay with that. 🙂
hey nile i like your article and you make me a big fan of you.
i must want to join you in facebook and also want more and more information about social networking so just give me ur e-mail id.. i wanna be ur follower..
It is probably better is you just follow me on my Facebook fan page at http://facebook.com/NileFlores 🙂
So I haven’t yet used hashtags for real on Facebook, except when hashtags are used on Instagram and I also opt to have that photo posted on FB automatically.
However, 2 questions:
1) For personal profiles that are private, does it even matter to use hashtags since your posts won’t show up in search?
2) I assume it works for Pages as well (and Open Groups)?
1- It doesn’t matter if your profile is private. The result will be seen only by those who are allowed to see it.
2- Yes, it works for all the other fun stuff too, including events. 🙂
Hey Nile,
Nice post and Thanks for sharing this post with us. I never used hashtag on Facebook but this new feature is really awesome and help in searching more easily.
Hello Nile,
I had no idea about Facebook planning to introduce hashtags until the last few days when some of my fellow bloggers wrote articles on it. I wonder how this would affect twitter and instagram! Anyway nice article.
Hi Nile,
I just found your blog and I have to say it’s full of useful info 😉 Also this information about hashtags on FB is new for me. I think this will make FB even more user friendly and popular.
With introduction of hashtags, Facebook can be considered as Instagram with chatting option.
Not really. You can’t compare Instagram to Facebook… its like comparing a tiny Chihuahua dog to a Great Dane.
I really loved twitter hashtags, but i think facebook could have created something unique feature rather than introducing the same feature from Facebook. Thanks for your information
Hi Nile, I’m damn sure that you’ve liked the new #HashTag feature in Facebook. It’s really awesome. It helps me to know the opinions of different people from the world.
Thanks for the post. Waiting to read more from your blog.
Hi Nile,
I’ve been reading a few articles about Facebook adding hashtags to the platform. I’ve used them for Twitter, but it’s time to ramp up and use them with Facebook since the opportunity is here. I can see the benefits of using them for specific searches. I also like having the ability to share blog posts. I hope people do not abuse them, and unfortunately it is a possibility. Technology is a wonderful thing when used for the good. Thanks for sharing.
Raena Lynn
What to expect. Competition is always there in every business. They will copy
the strategy of their competitors.
hi Nile, thanks for sharing this. # tag is new for me, a great fun using hash tag after reading this post.
Nice one.
felling great using it ,The hashtags will conform to users’ privacy settings — so putting a hashtag in a post that’s only visible to your friends won’t make it show up for anyone other than your friends. thanks for share!!
I do not use Twitter too much and hashtags are not a key feature for me. I think that the same will happen in Facebook. Nevertheless, I am pretty sure that people will benefit fot the implementation of hashtags in Facebook. You do not copy a feature from a competitor if it is not really good.
First of all thanks for sharing.# tag feature is great.Facebook is becoming a stronger and stronger with its new features.Thanks again for sharing this.
Atlast finally facebook gets hashtags. It’s a little messy, everyone on my wall spamming out the hashtags.
I think, facebook will make an inovation that will change the feature, like hashtag. But, recently facebook release the new feature in comment. You can add photo in a comment.
But i think Facebook hashtags does not work at all like twitter or Instagram does any one agree with me ?
Introduction of Hash tags makes Facebook interesting, regular updations will help to engage the FB users 🙂 Nice Post thanks for sharing
It will be potentially transformative. I like your post. Thanks
Its a great news for all hashtag lovers as Facebook has introduced hastags. I love it very much, I was using Hashtags in Twitter from a long time and was willing to get it in Facebook and finally I got it.
Finally facebook also adopted this concept. Hail Twitter