Elon Musk Sparks Debate by Calling Hashtags 'Ugly' and Obsolete on X

Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), has ignited a heated discussion about the relevance of hashtags on the platform. In a recent post, Musk dismissed hashtags as outdated and visually unappealing, asserting, “Please stop using hashtags. The system doesn’t need them anymore, and they look ugly.”

A Divided Response from X Users

Musk's statement triggered a flood of reactions from X users, with opinions sharply divided. Some users embraced the call for a cleaner, hashtag-free platform, while others defended the importance of hashtags for content organisation and discoverability.

• Supporters: One user humorously wrote, “Please, Mr Musk, can I carry on using #TwoTierKeir? I hear he doesn’t like it! Keir Starmer’s name keeps on giving with rhyming slang.”
• Critics: Another user took a critical tone, commenting, “The fact that the algorithm doesn’t ‘need’ hashtags is proof that the platform over-manipulates content. We should be seeing everything from accounts we follow, not content force-fed by the app.”
• Sarcasm: A witty user suggested, “We should make #StopUsingHashtags trend.”

The Evolving Role of Hashtags

Since their introduction, hashtags have been central to social media conversations, helping users connect around shared interests and trending topics. They have driven online movements, social campaigns, and cultural phenomena. However, with evolving platform algorithms, hashtags’ relevance is being re-evaluated.

Critics argue that hashtags now have diminishing value, as modern algorithms prioritize content quality and contextual relevance over hashtag usage. This has led to concerns that algorithmic curation reduces user control over the content they see.

Insights from X's AI Tool: Grok

The post that Musk reshared referenced feedback from Grok, an advanced AI chatbot developed by Musk’s AI company xAI. According to Grok, while hashtags can still be useful for organizing content and building communities, excessive use may harm engagement by making posts appear spam-like.

Grok’s best practices recommend using hashtags sparingly and ensuring they are directly relevant to the content. This approach helps maintain clarity while maximizing reach and interaction.

A New Era of Social Engagement?

As social media platforms continue evolving, Musk’s comments may signal a shift toward algorithm-driven content discovery, reducing reliance on traditional tools like hashtags. Whether users embrace this change or push back remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: the conversation is far from over.