A Guide to Trending Hashtags on TikTok, Instagram, and All Major Platforms (2024)

Be it #HotGirlSummer or #ThrowbackThursday, we have all used hashtags in our social media posts. While sometimes, they're an indication of our participation in a trend, at other times, they're simply a way to make our posts more discoverable.

Hashtags have been around since the early days of X (back when it was Twitter), but with the rise of TikTok and Instagram, they have become somewhat of a necessity. Some hashtags on these platforms have been used millions of times, and Instagram even has a trending section for popular hashtags.

Below, we look at some trending hashtags on TikTok, Instagram, and other social media sites. You can use this guide as a reference for your future posts and campaigns.

What Are Hashtags?

Let's break up the term ''hashtag'' into two words – hash and tag. The word ''hash'' refers to a symbol (#), while ''tag'' means a label or keyword. So, a hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by the # symbol.

For example, #outfitoftheday or #OOTD is a hashtag people use to tag their outfit posts. Similarly, #travelgram is used to tag travel-related posts, and #foodporn for mouth-watering food pictures.

How Do Hashtags Work?

Hashtags are clickable on most social media platforms and can lead users to a feed containing all posts with that specific hashtag. For example, if a friend of yours has used #travelgram on a recent picture of them posing in front of the Eiffel Tower, clicking on #travelgram will show you all posts that have used this hashtag.

Hashtags are not just for posts, though. You can also use them in stories, comments, and bios. For example, Hotel Erwin, an oceanfront hotel in Venice Beach, uses the hashtag #HotelErwin in its Instagram bio.

Some hashtags are branded, which means they are created and owned by a brand, while others are community-generated. For example, Villa Royale, a luxury resort in Palm Springs, uses its branded hashtag #VillaRoyale in all its Instagram posts.

On the other hand, #wedding and #palmspringswedding are community-generated hashtags that the resort uses in its wedding-related posts to appear in the feed of people searching for wedding inspiration in Palm Springs.

Why Use Hashtags?

Whether you're a social media enthusiast or a business, there are many reasons to use hashtags. For the latter, hashtags can help develop entire campaigns. Apple's #ShotOniPhone campaign is an excellent example that has generated over 30 million posts on Instagram and increased brand engagement. Our Instagram hashtags guide provides more insights in this regard.

Here are some other reasons to use hashtags in your social media posts.

1. To Increase Engagement

The most common reason individuals, influencers, and brands use hashtags is to increase engagement. Since hashtags are searchable on all major social media platforms, people looking for content in your niche can stumble upon your posts by searching for specific hashtags. That ultimately increases the likelihood of your posts getting more likes, comments, shares and saves.

For example, American High Shorts, an account that posts high-school-related skits, uses hashtags like #lastdayofschool, #school, and #collegelife to increase its reach and engagement.

Our guide on Instagram engagement suggests more tips to increase engagement rates.

2. To Build Brand Awareness

As mentioned earlier, branded hashtags are used by businesses to build brand awareness. They are usually unique to the brand and can include its name or slogan. When people search for these hashtags, they can find all the posts related to that brand, resulting in more exposure.

A brand that does this on TikTok is Tower 28 Beauty. The beauty brand uses #tower28beauty in its posts to create a community of customers.

@tower28beauty Hey 😌✌️ #tower28beauty #sensitiveskin #cleanbeauty #sephora ♬ original sound - Tower 28 Beauty

Use our branding guide to learn how hashtags and other tactics can help build brand awareness.

3. To Be More Visible

It's common knowledge that hashtags improve visibility. That's why people use trending hashtags in their X posts to appear on the feed. Similarly, on Instagram and TikTok, hashtags make your posts visible to people who are either searching by a specific hashtag or scrolling through the Explore page.

Take Ridiculus Reads as an example. They use a ton of reading-related hashtags like #bookstagram, #mylibrary, #bookblogger, and #bookworm to increase their visibility amongst the bibliophile community on Instagram.

4. To Take Part in a Trend

Often, popular trends on social media platforms are supported by specific hashtags. People use these hashtags when jumping on the trend bandwagon to show their participation.

A popular example of this is #GirlDinner, which has been used in more than 282 million posts on TikTok. It's a trend in which women show their unusual and lazy meals, like random snacks or leftover takeout. For example, Sarah Wolak has added #GirlDinner to her video of using a Girl Dinner filter. The post has over 4.9 million views.

@sarah_wolak #girldinner ♬ original sound - Karma Carr

Our guide on creating TikTok trending videos will teach you how to get your content to come on the For You page.

5. To Disclose Partnerships

Brands and influencers use hashtags like #sponsored or #ad to disclose a partnership with one another since it is a requirement by the Federal Trade Commission that helps consumers identify when content is sponsored.

Influencers may also use hashtags like #BrandnamePartner or #Affiliate to further disclose a partnership. Similarly, when brands collaborate with other brands to release collections, they often use #AxB and #AxCollab to make it clear that they are working together.

For example, in a sponsored post for FashionPhile, Delaney Rowe uses #fashionphilepartner to indicate that she is working with the brand for that post. 

Tiktok Trend Discovery

TikTok has a built-in Trends section that shows you the trending hashtags along with the number of posts and views they have garnered. You can also see a trend graph that shows the popularity of the hashtag over time. TikTok shows you trending hashtags for both:

• Desktop
• Mobile Devices

You can also see the hashtag analytics and related videos in the past 7 days. For example, at the time of writing this article, the hashtag #Olympics was trending as the Paris Olympics 2024 was taking place. By clicking on the ''Show Analytics'' button in front of the hashtag, we were taken to a page that showed the following information:

Source: ads.tiktok.com

• Posts: 9,000 in the past 7 days in the US
• Overall Posts: 618k
• Views: 256 million in the past 7 days in the US
• Overall Views: 30 billion

TikTok also shows you audience insights and regional popularity to give an overview of the reach and engagement potential of a trending hashtag among your audience and geographical area.

TikTok hashtag analytics

Hashtag Restrictions in the TikTok Creative Center

Previously, TikTok’s Creative Center had a search button, which marketers and creators could use to find specific hashtags for campaign planning. However, TikTok recently removed the search button and also restricted certain hashtags within the Creative Center tools. 

These restrictions make it harder for businesses and creators to explore the popularity of certain trends on the platform. Although TikTok made this change quietly, many users noticed it months ago and discussed it on forums like Reddit. 

Can’t search specific hashtags on TikTok Creative Center?!
byu/jessicahonig inTiktokhelp

The decision came in the wake of lawmakers and researchers scrutinizing the content related to the Israel-Hamas war and the wider geopolitics shown using the tool’s results.

Alex Haurek, the platform’s spokesperson, told the New York Times,

TikTok now shows data for the top 100 hashtags within a wide range of industries, from travel to pets and fashion, instead.

Viral Hashtags on TikTok

Here are the most popular hashtags on TikTok in 2024 along with the number of posts they have been used in. 

Beauty and Personal Care

The following hashtags are popular in the beauty and personal care niches. 

Apparel and Accessories 

These hashtags are trending in the apparel and accessories space. 

News and Entertainment 

The trending hashtags in the news and entertainment niches are as follows. 

How to Use Hashtags on TikTok?

On TikTok, you can use hashtags in post captions, comments, and your bio. For example, as a fashion influencer, you can use hashtags like #OOTD or #fashioninspo in your post captions to make it easier for users interested in fashion to find your content.

Brut, the media company, used #Olympics in all its posts related to the Paris Olympics. By using the hashtag, they were able to reach a wider audience interested in the event, and their videos received millions of views.

@brutamerica Foreign police have arrived in Paris for the #Olympics ♬ original sound - Brut.

Trending Hashtags on Instagram

Finding hashtags on Instagram is quite simple since Instagram has a search feature dedicated to hashtags. To find trending hashtags on Instagram, go to the ''Explore'' page and click on the ''Tags'' tab at the top. Here, you'll find a list of popular hashtags along with their post count and related hashtags. You can also search for the most popular Instagram hashtags in the search bar.

Most Popular Instagram Hashtags

Here are some general Instagram hashtags that trend on the platform. 

B2B Hashtags

Here are some trending B2B hashtags on Instagram. 

Beauty and Fashion

These hashtags are popular in the beauty and fashion niches on Instagram. 

Fitness 

The following fitness-related hashtags trend on Instagram.

Tavel 

Since travel and recreation is a hot topic on Instagram, here are some trending hashtags to use. 

Hashtags for Instagram Reels

Here are some of the most popular Instagram Reels hashtags. 

How to Use Hashtags on Instagram?

Like TikTok, you can use hashtags in Instagram post captions, comments, and bio. For example, Danielle Copperman uses hashtags like #outfitinspo in her outfit posts, helping her appear quite high in search results for that hashtag.

Hashtags can also be used in Instagram Stories. Learn how to use Instagram Stories in our guide. 

What Changed In Instagram’s 2024 Hashtag Update?

In March 2024, Instagram updated the hashtag search to show extensive search results when a user clicks or taps on a hashtag. The update aims to improve profile and hashtag discovery. 

Previously, you would see a ‘’Top Posts’’ feed, where the top results with the hashtags were shown. Now, you can see all results for a hashtag. You can also filter them by accounts, audio, Reels, and other metrics. 

This update provides an opportunity for businesses and content creators to improve their reach. You can use popular and relevant hashtags in your posts to be more visible in hashtag feeds. Plus, you can discover new profiles through hashtags that align with your interests to find accounts for potential collaborations. 

Trending Hashtags on Facebook

On Facebook, you can also find hashtags through the search bar. Simply type in a hashtag, and you'll see related hashtags, posts, and pages. You can also use free hashtag tracking tools to find appropriate hashtags.

Most Popular Facebook Hashtags 

Here are some trending hashtags on Facebook.

How to Use Hashtags on Facebook?

Facebook hashtags can be used in post captions, stories, comments, and bios. You can also use hashtags to group content in Facebook Groups. The platform has a ''search this group'' feature, making it easy to find related posts with the same hashtag.

Since Facebook is a leading B2B marketing platform, most brands use branded hashtags in their posts. For example, Netflix uses hashtags specific to its upcoming shows or movies, such as #StrangerThings or #Narcos.

In the light of this controversy and International Olympic Committee’s subsequent confirmation of Khelif’s eligibility to partake in female boxing, Facebook banned the hashtag ‘’XX,’’ which people had been using in their posts to imply that the boxer was genetically male.

Users denounce Facebook banned hashtag "#XX" due to scandal over participation of "XY" individuals in women's Olympic boxing https://t.co/kjMARtyjRA

— VOZ (@Voz_US) August 12, 2024

Richard Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist, later posted on X that his Facebook account had been deleted because he had posted about the subject using the hashtag. Some users also reported seeing the message:

This example proves that Facebook is constantly monitoring and regulating the use of hashtags on its platform. So, you should always be careful and research before using a hashtag on Facebook.

Trending Hashtags on YouTube

Finding trending hashtags on YouTube is a bit tricky. The platform doesn't have a dedicated hashtag search feature, but you can use the YouTube search bar to find popular hashtags. Just type in a keyword or phrase and see related hashtags and videos. For example, type "#" followed by your keyword, and you'll see a list of relevant hashtags.

Most Popular YouTube Hashtags

YouTube doesn’t show how many times a hashtag has been used in posts. So, here’s a list of trending YouTube hashtags. 

• #YouTube
• #Vlog
• #Tutorial
• #Music
• #Funny
• #DIY
• #Travel
• #Entertainment
• #Fitness
• #Gaming
• #Food
• #Beauty
• #Fashion
• #LifeHacks
• #Motivation
• #Education
• #Technology
• #Comedy
• #Inspiration
• #Review

Here are some hashtags you can use on YouTube Shorts. 

• #Shorts
• #ShortVideo
• #ShortsVideo
• #YouTubeShorts
• #Viral
• #ShortsChallenge
• #ShortsFestival
• #ShortsViral
• #FYP
• #ShortsTrend
• #ShortsContent
• #QuickVideo
• #TrendingShorts
• #ShortsFYP
• #ShortsCreator

How to Use Hashtags on YouTube? 

On YouTube, you can use hashtags in video titles, comments, and descriptions. You can also use hashtags in your video tags, which help YouTube's algorithm understand what your content is about. For example, Mak Crypto Signals has used the hashtags #futurestrading and #scalping in their video about Bitcoin trading.

Trending Hashtags on X

It won't be wrong to call X the origin site for hashtags. The platform's Explore tab has a Trends section where you can find the most popular hashtags of the day. You can also use the # symbol followed by your query in X's search bar to find relevant hashtags.

Most Popular X Hashtags

Here are some general trending hashtags on X. 

• #business
• #digitalmarketing
• #entrepreneur
• #marketing
• #fyp
• #business
• #digitalmarketing
• #entrepreneur
• #marketing
• #fyp
• #motivation
• #success
• #smallbusiness
• #motivation
• #success
• #finance
• #startup
• #investment
• #smallbusiness

Tech Hashtags

Since tech is a booming space on X, here are some trending hashtags you can use for tech-related posts. 

• #technology
• #tech
• #ai
• #innovation
• #coding
• #engineering
• #samsung
• #iphone
• #artificialintelligence
• #business
• #cybersecurity
• #trending
• #science
• #mobile
• #apple
• #programming
• #smartphone
• #gadgets
• #software

Personal Branding 

Many people use X for building a brand for themselves. The following hashtags can make your posts more visible. Check out our personal branding guide for more details. 

• #personalbranding
• #passiveincome
• #personalbrand
• #entrepreneurship
• #entrepreneur
• #onlinebusiness
• #socialmedia
• #success
• #contentcreator
• #sidehustle
• #motivation
• #ecommerce

How to Use Hashtags on X? 

Most people use hashtags in their posts, retweets, and replies on X. You can also use branded or professional hashtags in your bio. Event-based hashtags also do well on X. For example, F1 enthusiasts and news reporters use relevant hashtags for the location where the Grand Prix is taking place. Here's an X post from the BelgianGP, which takes place in Spa.

MY HOLY TRINITY IS BACK
CHARLES AND CHECO REDEEMING THEMSELVES #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/J2dVXEsUQe

— Marie🌸LET’S GO CHECO! (@ma_fe79) July 27, 2024

Trending Hashtags on LinkedIn

When you think of LinkedIn, hashtags may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, with the platform's recent updates and focus on engaging content, hashtags have become popular. You can also follow hashtags on the platform to see related content. Alternatively, use the search bar to find relevant hashtags for your industry or interests.

Most Popular LinkedIn Hashtags

Here are some popular LinkedIn hashtags along with their follower count.

How to Use Hashtags on LinkedIn?

Like every other platform, you can use hashtags in your LinkedIn posts or comments. When writing a LinkedIn post, the platform gives you hashtag suggestions based on your post's content. You can then use them instead of manually searching for hashtags.

You can add a hashtag to your bio, too. Make sure your LinkedIn hashtags are professional and relevant to your industry or niche. For example, Scott Clary uses the #1 hashtag to show his podcast’s ranking in his LinkedIn bio. 

What Are the Types of Hashtags and Where to Use Each Type?

Depending on their use case, hashtags can be of different types. Here are some common ones.

Branded Hashtags 

We've already explained these earlier. Branded hashtags are unique, business-specific hashtags that brands use to increase awareness and make themselves more discoverable.

Where to Use: You can use branded hashtags in social media posts and bios.

Example: #Dettol is a branded hashtag that the company uses in its Instagram posts. 

Location-Based Hashtags 

Hashtags can be location-based, too. For example, a hashtag may be specific to a country, city, region, or event. Location-based hashtags allow users to find content relevant to a location or an event taking place there.

Where to Use: Use location-based hashtags to increase your local discoverability. You can use them in your posts and stories.

Example: #NYC and #Paris are location-based hashtags.

Industry or Community Hashtags 

Some hashtags are specific to industries, such as tech, fashion, lifestyle, education, fintech, and crypto. Similarly, some of them are community-based and may be related to a particular social cause, interest, or hobby.

Where to Use: Awareness campaigns, social causes, sustainability campaigns, and industry-specific content can all benefit from community or industry hashtags.

Example: #SustainableFashion and #WomenInTech are examples of community and industry hashtags, respectively. Leanne Young used the latter in her post about speaking at the WIT Portugal Summit. 

Mass Appeal Hashtags 

Most hashtags on Instagram and TikTok are mass-appeal hashtags. They are broad and general, making them a popular choice for businesses because they increase the chances of reaching more people.

Where to Use: You can use them in everyday posts.

Example: Some popular mass appeal hashtags include #instagood, #love, #FYP, and #photooftheday.

Occasion-Based Hashtags

Some hashtags stem from certain occasions. These may be sporting, fashion, tech, cultural, or political events. For example, during Christmas, you may see the hashtag #Christmas or #MerryChristmas trending.

Where to Use: Use occasion-based hashtags in posts and stories related to the event.

Example: #SuperBowl and #Olympics are occasion-based hashtags. Giants Headline, a NewYork Giants fan page, uses #SuperBowl in its posts to increase reach during the event.

Campaign-Based Hashtags

Brands often create campaign-based hashtags to group their content and collect user-generated content. They also share these hashtags with influencers to include in their sponsored posts.

Where to Use: Use campaign-based hashtags in your influencer partnerships and UGC reposts.

Example: Always used #LikeAGirl for their campaign to empower young girls. The hashtag has over 1.5 million posts on Instagram.

How to Find Trending Hashtags on Social Media? 

The search bar is your best friend when it comes to finding trending hashtags on social media. Here are some other ways.

Monitor Your Competitors 

Look at the hashtags your competitors are using, and try to identify any patterns or trends. You can also see which hashtags are receiving the most engagement and incorporate them into your own posts. Check out our selection of competitor analysis tools to find one to use.

Follow Social Media Influencers 

Social media influencers are usually quick to jump on the latest trends and hashtags. Follow a few influencers in your niche and keep an eye on the hashtags they are using. Then, test these hashtags in your posts, too.

Use a Social Media Listening Tool

Social media listening tools are like your personal detective for finding trending hashtags. They help you monitor conversations and track popular hashtags in your industry.

Besides hashtag identification, you can also use them to find new trends and topics. For example, if you're a tech company, you can use social media listening tools to identify what's currently the talk of the tech town. Then, look for hashtags related to these topics and use them in your posts.

Use a Hashtag Generator 

You don't have to search manually for hashtags; an automated tool can help take this burden off your shoulders. Hashtag generators generate popular hashtags for you based on the keywords you provide. Some also come with analytics that show you the reach of the generated hashtags.

Here are our hashtag generator tools:

• Instagram Hashtag Generator
• TikTok Hashtag Generator

To use these generators, simply upload the image or video you want to publish on Instagram or TikTok. Our tool will provide you with a list of relevant hashtags. For example, we uploaded the image of a pair of sneakers, and the tool came up with these hashtags.

Hashtags generated by our tool

Find Related Hashtags

You can also use the search tab on social media platforms to find hashtags related to your posts. For example, if you're a clean beauty brand, you can search for #cleanbeauty in the Instagram search bar, and it will show you other popular hashtags related to this topic. You can do the same with other platforms like TikTok, X, YouTube, and Facebook.

Clean beauty hashtags

Amp Up Discoverability With Trending Hashtags

Hashtags are one of these social media elements that you'll hear quite a lot of debate about. While some swear by their effectiveness, others see them as a dying trend. However, there's no denying that hashtags can make your posts more discoverable.

The guide above covers trending hashtags on major social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, X, and Instagram. Keep the conventions of each platform in mind when hashtagging. For example, Instagram has a 30-per-post hashtag limit, while X's character limit doesn't allow for many hashtags.

We've also discussed the main types of hashtags. You can use them based on your objective and target audience. As for branded hashtags, they can be used in all your organic and influencer partnership posts. 

About the Author

Koba Molenaar

Writer

Koba Molenaar brings nearly a decade of rich experience in content writing, specializing in digital marketing, branding, SaaS, and eCommerce. Her passion for helping brands, from solopreneurs to established companies, connect with their audiences shines through her work. As a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, Koba’s commitment to excellence is evident in her work, showcasing her as a relatable and knowledgeable voice in the industry.