By: Nosipho Ntombela

Ever seen a hashtag and wondered what it is all about? If you log on to your social media pages, especially Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, you will find many tags written

#Ilovehim #us #Loveliveshere #Abouttoday. This new home made tags have change what hashtags are all about.

According to #hashtag.org, this metadata tag is used on social network and microblogging services which makes it easier for users to find messages with a specific content. Handlers

create and use hashtags by placing the hash symbol # in front of a word either in the main text or at the end of a message.

Chris Messina, a social technology expert, is the one who invented the very first hashtag on Twitter.

According to #hashtag.org, he first posted the word #barcamp in August 2007.

“Hashtags were originally a Twitter thing not Facebook. What I have come to realise is that the majority on Facebook do not even know how to Tag properly. Having said all of that I
don’t see a problem if people use # properly the way it was initially intended to be used,” said Nomfundo Zuma, a journalist intern at MegaZone Hit Radio.

Hashtag is created by online users to discuss specific events and relevant issues.

These are categorically arranged so that other online users can easily search for the topic and participate in the conversation, like the #BringBackOurGirls, #Takethenextstep campaigns. No matter
where you are in the world. Information is updated and shared in social media.

Ntokozo Ngwenya, a Facebook user said, “To me a hashtag is now being used to express what a person is feeling at a particular time, to show emotions and satisfaction about what’s
happening in their lives.”

Nosihle Nana Mthethwa, a Twitter user said, “I see nothing wrong with Hashtags as long as they are done with a purpose because they are there for a reason especially when you are

tweeting or updating your status on Facebook. It serves as a key highlight to the point you are trying to emphasise.”

According to Tagdef.com, there are four rules to consider when doing a hash tag:

1. People should use a maximum of two hashtags in their tweets or Facebook posts,

2. Keep them short,

3. Define their tag and also search for the meaning,

4. Lastly, make sure there are no spaces in the words preceding the hashtag or

punctuation, as it will break the link.

Let us go on and enjoy our hashtags. Let us know that the power of what we spread via social media is in our hands. Let us use the information provided to us wisely and correct
#Spreadtheword