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THIRTY-TWO

THE HASHTAG

The hashtag is a way of sorting not only content but also your Digital Souls. Whether you use hashtags or you search hashtags, every click or every hashtag you add to your post is telling the algorithm which bucket you belong in. It is you, your Digital Soul that is being sorted by interaction and engagement. Yes, others can look up your content that way, but who do you know that actually searches a hashtag and scrolls it? Just like all great carrots from the system, this was a brilliant implementation by the social platforms. Users believe it is to their benefit to mark their posts, but really your posts are marking you when you mark them.

Where did the term hashtag come from?

hash (noun)

The term hash has roots in the Old French word hacher, which means "to chop'' or "to cut into small pieces."

tag (verb)

The word tag is related to the Middle Low German word tagge, which means "point" or "end." over time, it came to represent labels or markers attached to items, often with a tapered end.

Modern definition:

hash symbol (#)

The hash symbol, a Tag: In the context of hashtags, a tag refers to the word or phrase that follows the "#" symbol. This word or phrase is used to describe and categorize content. It acts as a label that links related posts or discussions. When users click on or search for a specific hashtag, they can see all posts that have been tagged with it, making it easier to find content on a particular subject.

The hashtag serves as both a discovery tool and a categorization mechanism. Tagging your content goes beyond seeking visibility; it reflects the significant role algorithms play in our digital experiences. Each tag not only categorizes content but also contributes to our digital identity.

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