https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InstagramYou’re not dreaming if you’ve discovered that posts from your favorite hashtags have inexplicably disappeared from your Instagram feed. Instagram discreetly discontinued the feature of following hashtags in late 2024. This feature had been available since 2017 and was formerly a common tool to keep track of interests and find specialized communities.
Why, therefore, the change? Instagram did not release an official statement outlining the change, but it seems to be a part of a larger initiative to reduce spam and improve the quality of material. The hashtag-following tool eventually turned into a haven for clickbait, bots, and useless messages, making your feed more cluttered rather than better. Additionally, hashtags were no longer performing up to par since the algorithm was taking over the task of selecting what you see on Instagram.
Let’s examine the specific changes, their significance, and further applications for hashtags—yes, they are still in use.
Why it is no longer possible to follow hashtags on Instagram
When hashtags initially came out, they were a straightforward yet powerful tool for finding new material. Dreamy vistas from a diverse range of creators would fill your feed if you followed something like #TravelPhotography. With less influencer overload, #MinimalistHome gave you DIY inspiration and comfortable interiors. Additionally, there were no conditions (or strict adherence) attached, making it a brilliant shortcut to the stuff you truly cared about.
However, like a lot of positive things on the internet, the vibrations were taken over. It became too simple to game hashtags. In order to increase visibility, bots, spam accounts, and clout-chasers began to cram pointless messages under trending tags. In an attempt to be found, even well-meaning individuals started stuffing their captions with hashtags.
Instagram made an effort to tidy up. In order to prevent the spread of damaging content during the 2020 U.S. election, it removed the “Recent” tab. In 2022, it reinstated the same strategy to combat spam. However, opinions differed—many users thought it was more difficult to find new content—and the solution failed to solve the underlying issue. Instead than investing more resources in its enforcement, Instagram decided to eliminate the feature completely. On December 13, 2024, the upgrade was stealthily released, with notifications sent out right within the app.
Is it still possible to utilize Instagram hashtags?
To help your material be seen, you may still search for hashtags, browse through the most popular and recent postings, and include them in your own work. You are no longer able to follow them in the same way that you would a person or page. This implies that hashtag-curated content won’t be randomly added to your stream any more. That’s a bit of a shock for creators. In the past, using hashtags to expand your audience required little work. You’ll now need to rely more on Reels, clever descriptions, and the powerful Explore tab to get recognized since that stream of discovery is no longer available.
All of this is a part of Instagram’s larger rebranding. With the help of algorithms that actively learn your tastes by analyzing what you interact with—or don’t—the platform is moving toward tailored feeds. Instagram is promoting a more comprehensive (and natural) strategy for developing and interacting with an audience rather than focusing solely on hashtags.
Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram, has stated that hashtags are not a growth hack. They “assist in classifying content, but they do not ensure distribution,” he said. In plain English? Your content and the way people interact with it are what really count. You will now need to manually check in if you are missing that customized feed of rare vintage finds, dog memes, or trip inspiration. Or simply hope that Instagram’s algorithm is familiar with you.
How to use Instagram without hashtags to get noticed
Even when hashtags aren’t as effective as they once were, your content doesn’t have to disappear. According to the CEO of Instagram, here are some pointers on what really works.
Begin by conducting a search. The search function on Instagram now functions more like Google’s. It now surfaces content based on actual terms rather than just hashtags and usernames. This implies that even if you didn’t use a hashtag, your reel with the precise word in the title may appear if someone searches for “easy meal prep” or “best skincare for oily skin.”
Write captions the way a genuine person would search to increase your chances of appearing in those results. Replace ambiguous one-liners with more natural, precise language, such as “What to do in San Francisco this weekend” rather than “#weekend.” Additionally, take advantage of Instagram’s alt text option. Although Instagram is designed to be accessible, the keywords you include assist it comprehend the purpose of your post.
Engagement is also more important. Beyond simply the post, comments, shares, and saves educate the algorithm what resonates. The way people engage with your content is really important since Instagram is beginning to extract information from captions and comments.
Next are posts that have been suggested. It’s Instagram’s suggestion engine if you’ve noticed stuff from profiles you don’t follow strewn over your feed. Your post may get a place in someone’s feed if it complements what they are already interested in.
Ultimately, even if someone has never heard of you before, you have a chance to reach them if you’re producing something they actually care about. Focus more on clarity, keywords, and increasing engagement to convince the algorithm that you’re worth watching than on hashtags.