What are hashtags, and are they still important for Instagram growth?

A hashtag is simply a keyword preceded by the # symbol. It acts like a virtual tag that adds your post to a category. For example, using #waterfall groups your image with other waterfall content, so when someone searches that term, your post may appear. However, hashtags are less critical than they used to be. Instagram’s algorithm has improved at recognizing spoken and written words in captions, reels, and alt text, so hashtags are now optional. They won’t hurt, but they’re not essential if you’re already using optimized, descriptive language throughout your posts. Focus on clear captions and keywords instead.

---

Asked by an artist unfamiliar with Instagram terminology · Answered by Indra · Office Hours · 2026-04-30