Something that has always defined younger generations is their ability to use technology to reach people around the world almost instantly. People first found ways to virtually share their thoughts and lives through websites like Facebook, although they were more likely to only see posts of people they were friends with. However, it was in these early stages where the Pound Sign became a Hashtag, and people were able to broaden their horizons to find meme pages or posts about (literally) anything they want, from animal videos, to relationship posts, to #relatable posts. From this point on the world that one was able to explore on their phones was wider and more accessible than the world that was right in front of them.
Since then, the most popular social apps have shifted along the years beginning with Facebook, then Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Vine, Tumblr, Twitter, and most recently, TikTok. Each of these has allowed people to reach each other in different ways, but the usage of the hashtag can be consistency found in all of them, demonstrating that it has co-evolved with the internet and its users. For instance, they were mostly used at first to express emotion or eventfulness, such as #ILoveMyMom or #AtTheBeach. It was a way for people to give more of themselves to something they were sharing online without actually writing about it. Then, as people began exploring meme pages and subject-oriented accounts, they were able to use hashtags to find different posts about what they were interested in simply by typing up keywords into a search bar. This opened doors for people to interact with companies, websites, people, and groups that they may have never known about before. In turn, some were able to use this to their advantage. This is how people have been able to use hashtags to gain popularity for themselves or a cause. One of the most recent examples would be the #BlackLivesMatter movement that got millions of people around the world to protest police brutality and share their perspective online. However, this is also how #Influencers were able to gain wealth and popularity just by having a YouTube channel or posting on Instagram and selling products to their audiences.
To older generations, it might be unbelievable how far reaching their original Pound Sign has become, but nonetheless it only continues to advance. This is because there is no easier way for one to become rich than to become well-liked by millions, and utilizing a hashtag is one of the best ways for one to reach the audience they want and gain the momentum they need to market themselves. However, it is also important to remember that hashtags are not only used by capitalists but by ordinary people too. They're used when a fan page shares an edit, when a singer releases a new song, when a new dance is created, and when something really funny is said. There will always be negatives to the ways in which the internet is able to connect people together, but most are likely to agree that the positives far outweigh them.
-Celeste
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