Twitter is experimenting with hashtags

Twitter is trying to monetize on hashtags by removing their clickable feature unless paid for by brands

Twitter will reportedly experiment with non-clickable hashtags for the platform, hindering its most helpful feature of finding more tweets related to specific topics with a hashtag.

Jane Manchun Wong tweeted a screenshot of the experimental change on the platform, which didn't include clickable hashtags except for branded hashtags which companies pay for in order to promote product marketing.

Twitter is working on an experiment where #hashtags are no longer clickable links

(unless the Tweet contains Branded Hashtags like #OneTeam and #Periscope that brands pay to add an icon next to hashtags for a while to promote stuff)

Not sure what this is for… pic.twitter.com/DdcYyDVaNM

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) October 10, 2022

Removing clickable hashtags from the platform could be a way for Twitter to monetize with paid promotion, Digital Trends reported.

Chris Messina, the hashtag inventor, responded to the news with a GIF and "Not sure what this is for..."

https://t.co/r7CQaQ3BzS pic.twitter.com/rfnETfjpLj

— Chris Messina (@chrismessina) October 10, 2022