#Finally: Hashtags come to Facebook
Hashtags, a feature that has been seemingly available for years on every single social network but the largest one, has finally arrived on Facebook.
The Menlo Park social giant announced Wednesday that users will now be able to click on hashtags to see what others are saying about public topics.
For example, Facebook said users could click on #NBAFinals on their friends’ posts to see a feed of content all about the ongoing championship series between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs.
Facebook also said that when users share tweets, Instagram pictures or content from other social networks that include hashtags, those hashtags will now also be clickable on Facebook.
Quiz: How much do you know about Facebook?
Hashtags can also be searched with Facebook’s search tool. And in the future, Facebook will show users hashtags that are trending.
The company said it is adding hashtags so users can more effectively engage with others during large public events. Facebook said that during TV prime-time hours, as many as 100 million U.S. users chime in on the social network. Two weeks ago, more than 1.5 million mentions were posted about “Game of Throne’s†(in)famous “Red Wedding†episode.
Facebook said hashtags in new posts and those from up to three weeks ago will be clickable.
“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,†the company said Wednesday.
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