Everything and anything – just put a # at the beginning
The idea of using hashtags puzzled me, and for the longest time I rejected the concept of using them. All of my peers were pretty much obsessed with hashtagging, some more excessively than others. Up to a point of me wondering whether their Instagram or Facebook post was about the number of hashtags they could think of rather than the photo they had just uploaded. But now, #IFinallyGetIt!
Quite simply, the cross hatch figure beloved by Twitter users already known as the hash symbol in the UK, pound in the US and everywhere else – the number sign or ‘hex’ is a marker that allows 140 characters to be grouped together by subject (#OutstandingJournalists for example). It makes it extremely easy to search for names, places or phrases in the world of cyber space. You can use hashtags for everything and anything, to empower or undermine, to interact or overreact, to amuse and abuse #PossibilitiesAreEndless. For instance, if you wanted to make a comment about the weather changing, you could tweet “It’s a cold and gloomy day #WinterIsComing”. That would be the simplest way of using a hashtag, but you can even have hashtags commenting on another hashtag (Yes, it’s being done and quite often). For example, “It’s a dark and gloomy day #WinterIsComing #FreezingMyButtOff #CanISharePantsWithYou #JustKidding #NotReally. Using hashtags as a tool for adding humor is almost a necessity especially to what might otherwise be a uninteresting situation – “Running errands #NeverEnding #LifeAsAnIntern #WorstJobEver #WhenWillIBecomeBoss”.
It might be surprising but hashtags can be traced back to just one man – Chris Messina, a former Google employee was the first to tweet back in 2007. Twitter initially rejected the idea but the #symbol has since been synonymous with Twitter to categorize messages. As the practice of hashtagging took off with users and even brands employing hashtags to cover all things serious (#Egypt) to entertainment topics (#MileyCyrus), other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google+, PinInterest are one of the many that now support hashtags.
As I am #EditorForNow, I thought it would be good to give you an idea on what to expect in our very first issue of #Hashtag. The concept of #Hashtag was conceived because we are all living in a world where social media is part of our daily lives and routines. #Hashtag aims to cover current and upcoming events, activities and simply things anyone can do.
October was a pretty busy month in the small town of Örebro, there was #Halloween of course and for the second year in a row, #PennbridgeTattooMess.
Travelling can be expensive so we have selected some #StuffInStockholm to update you on what’s been happening recently, find stories on the #StockholmFilmFestival, #StockholmHallowenParade, and not forgetting the ongoing #SwedenAndSin exhibition. Maybe you can plan ahead for next year #WhoAreYouKidding? Ever wanted to visit #Kiruna? How about some tips #TravellingOnABudget in our #OutAndAbout section.
Thinking the weather is going to get better? #StopDreaming and try out #RockClimbing or #Dancing. If you rather stay at home, check out the benefits of #WatchingCartoons or test out a #FitnessApp. Just because it’s cold, it doesn’t mean you have to be #StuckIndoors – you could check out the local #Blacksmith, if that is not really your thing, how about #ShoppingOnABudget for #SecondHandClothes? It could definitely spruce up your closet without #BurningAHoleInYourPocket. If you are thinking of heading outdoors #YouAreCrazy but why not #BeOneWithNature and explore one of the many #HikingTrails
We live in an age where news is reported and consumed in real time, Google any news publication and you can read the story merely seconds after its taken place. News cycles and attention spans are measured in seconds and even the most traditional news outlets must conform to social media in order to remain relevant. The race to deliver a story first has never been more competitive. Hashtags will most probably become one of the fundamental aspects of keeping news relevant. Not sure why I rejected the idea of using them, hashtags are easy #JustDoThis.
# h a s h t a g 