Are hashtags losing their power?


Hi Reader,

In a recent post, Instagram leader Adam Mosseri made it clear: hashtags won’t get you more reach.

Once upon a time, hashtags were the go-to way to boost discoverability, grow reach, and land on trending pages. But as platforms evolve (especially Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok) algorithms are shifting how content gets surfaced.

So, where do hashtags stand now?

🔎 Discovery is now algorithm-driven. Platforms prioritize relevance, engagement, and personalization over hashtag use.
📉 Reach isn’t guaranteed. Adding 20 hashtags won’t necessarily help your post get seen.
📈 They still add context. Hashtags can signal your content topic, help with niche visibility, and support branded campaigns.

Basically, hashtags aren’t dead, but they’re no longer the star of the show. High-quality content, strong engagement, and platform-native features (like polls, and carousels, and reels) are carrying more weight in growth strategies.

Personally, I believe the real power of hashtags today lies in SEO. With more people using social media as a search engine, the question to ask yourself: what key words would your audience actually type in to find you?

Including a few of these relevant hashtags, paired with content your audience wants to engage with, will give you the best results.

As always, I'm here to help.

With gratitude,

Allie @ Twilight Social Media

Source: https://wearedigitaldiplomacy.substack.com/p/hashtags-still-relevant-adam-mosseri

Twilight Social Media

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