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In this short-form episode, we look at how hashtags have evolved over time and what’s next. Proposed by Chris Messina in 2007 for use on Twitter, hashtags were initially meant to categorize and connect conversations on social media platforms. However, in articles published on Medium in recent months, Messina explains his belief that hashtags have become a tool for spam and abuse, manipulated by algorithms to promote content. He suggests that it may be time for a change in how hashtags are used.

Neville outlines Messina’s six ideas and the potential future for a tool that has underpinned much utility and value for 16 years in how people connect topics, conversations, and other people on social networks, not only on Twitter.
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