Facebook is set to offer clickable hashtags on their site much like Twitter has been doing for years.
After first starting in IRC channels, hashtagging has blown up. This is mainly due to the popularisation of Twitter, after a huge boom in traffic in March 2008. Used to identify a theme, the hashtag will make Facebook users more aware of the size of the site and not just the of their personal network.
With Facebook’s new hashtagging system, users will be able to click on hashtags to produce a search for the specific phrase or word, this will be integrated with Facebook’s other websites, including Instagram, where hashtagging is already popular.
Another way in which Facebook is following Twitter is with the authentication of famous people and big brand accounts, as well as its promise to create a better mobile experience for its users.
This integration appears to signify a step in the right direction for Facebook, with some advertisers feeling that they might look to monetise this feature in the future.
Facebook’s Product Manager Greg Lindley said: “To date, there has not been a simple way to see the larger view of what’s happening or what people are talking about”.
Hashtags are just the first step to help people more easily discover what others are saying about a specific topic and participate in public conversations”.
Greg Lindley went on to say: “We’ll continue to roll out more features in the coming weeks and months, including trending hashtags and deeper insights, that help people discover more of the world’s conversations.”
After Facebooks poor year, will this be enough to get them back on form? What do you think about this? Tweet us @theukseo on twitter.
