Threads Introduces Subtle Twist To Hashtags, Testing Tags Without '#' Symbol
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Threads will begin testing a way to tag topics on Threads in order to categorise posts based on theme or interest
Meta's Threads app was touted as an alternative to X (formerly known as Twitter) upon launch. By adding similar features, it has lived up to that reputation. Now, Threads has added a core X feature - hashtags, but with a twist.
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What is Threads' version of hashtag?
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Threads will begin testing a way to tag topics on Threads in order to categorise posts based on theme or interest. On X, the hashtag appears in front of the word when users write it in the text of the post.
Post by @zuckView on Threads
On Threads, users can tag posts by using the # symbol too, but it'll not appear in front of the word when the tags are shown. Instead, tagged words will appear as clickable blue links.
Also read: Steps To Stop Threads' Posts From Automatically Sharing To Instagram And Facebook
According to TechCrunch, the-hashtag-without-the-hash test will commence in Australia and the Threads team will decide what to do with the feature based on user feedback. In the announcement, Zuckerberg wrote that more countries will be able to test tags "soon."
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How will tagging work on Threads?
To use the new tags functionality on Threads, you'll tap thew new # button in the app or type in the symbol using your keyboard followed by text - akin to how hashtags work on X and Instagram... and pretty much everywhere else.
Once you begin typing, various tags will appear to help you find the right tag. Users can tag virtually anything and create a new tag from scratch. Once the post is published with the tagged word, users can click on the tag to see other posts with the same tag.
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Essentially, tags on Threads work just like they do on X and any other app. The only two differences are that the hashtag symbol will not be visible and Threads will only allow one tag per post unlike X where you can add multiple hashtags in a single post.
Also read: Threads App Set To Introduce DMs Feature After Record-Breaking Sign Ups
The hashtag was proposed by tech veteran Chris Messina in 2007 to group topics and trends. Twitter adopted the feature, followed by other social media platforms. Messina, in a post on Threads, expressed his disappointment at the feature.
"This is wild ¡ª Threads is actively repressing/suppressing the octothorpe (#). Why not remove the $ prefix in front of numbers too? We know it¡¯s a number. We don¡¯t need that context. It¡¯s _inferred_," he wrote.
Post by @chrisView on Threads
What do you think about Threads' hashtags without the hashtags? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com and click here for our how-to guides.
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