Instagram Is Getting Rid of the Ability to Follow Hashtags

Lindsey Gamble / Instagram 

Instagram is removing the ability to follow hashtags. Starting December 13th, users will no longer be able to follow hashtags, and any hashtags they previously followed will stop appearing in their feed.

Why It Matters: Hashtags were once a powerful tool for content discovery. Over time, however, their purpose and usefulness have evolved as Instagram has made subtle changes, gradually reducing their prominence on the platform.

Earlier this year, Instagram made it updates to hashtag experience that include consolidating all hashtag-related content into a single view in search results.

This latest change further devalues hashtags by removing a key way for users to discover content tied to specific hashtags in their feed. However, it could prove beneficial in the long run as Instagram seems focused on improving content discovery with AI, reducing reliance on manual methods like following hashtags.