Are Hashtags Still a Thing in 2025? What You Need to Know

Third Coast Media Marketing
Apr 25
2 min read

Updated: May 6

Are Hashtags Still a Thing in 2025? What You Need to Know

Hashtags used to be a big deal. You'd slap a few on your post and suddenly get more eyes on your content. But in 2025, things have changed—and fast.

Let’s break down what’s going on and how it affects your marketing.

What’s Happening with Hashtags?

LinkedIn: You can still use hashtags here, but they don’t help you get noticed like they used to. LinkedIn now cares more about whether your post gets likes, comments, and clicks. Stick to 3–5 hashtags that really fit your post.
Instagram & TikTok: These apps are using smarter tools to figure out what your post is about—just from the caption and content. That means you don’t need a huge list of hashtags anymore. In fact, using too many (especially if they don’t match your content) can hurt your reach.

What About Google?

Google no longer looks at hashtags when deciding how to rank your site. What matters now? Good, helpful content that people actually want to read or watch. Use words your audience would type into Google. Focus on answering questions or solving problems.

So, What Should You Do Instead?

Here are a few simple tips:

Create great content – Posts that are helpful, interesting, or entertaining will always win.
Use hashtags, but don’t overdo it – A few that match your topic are enough.
Use plain words in your posts – Keywords matter more than hashtags on many platforms now.
Pay attention to what works – Check how your posts perform and adjust as needed.
Keep learning – Social platforms change often. Stay in the loop so your posts stay strong.