[Guide] Hashtags vs. Mentions: Understanding the Differences on Twitter

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Twitter hashtags and mentions are two of the most commonly used features on the platform, but they serve very different purposes.

Hashtags, which are created by adding the "#" symbol in front of a word or phrase (e.g. #TwitterTips), are used to categorize and organize content on Twitter. When you click on a hashtag, you'll see a list of all the tweets that have been tagged with that particular hashtag. This makes it easy for users to discover and engage with content related to a specific topic or event.

Twitter mentions, on the other hand, are used to directly address other users on the platform. When you mention someone in a tweet, you include their Twitter handle (their username preceded by the "@" symbol) in the body of your tweet. This will notify the mentioned user that they've been mentioned, and the tweet will also appear in their notifications and on their timeline (assuming they haven't blocked you).

So, in short, hashtags are used to categorize and organize content, while mentions are used to directly address other users on the platform. Both can be useful tools for engaging with the Twitter community, but they serve different purposes.

Here are some additional differences between Twitter hashtags and mentions:

• Hashtags can be used by anyone, whereas mentions can only be used to address users who have a Twitter account.
• Hashtags can be added to any tweet, even if it doesn't mention any other users, whereas mentions must be included in a tweet that is addressing a specific user.
• Hashtags are often used in a broader, more general sense (e.g. #socialmedia) to categorize a tweet, whereas mentions are more specific and personal (e.g. "@OpenAI I have a question about your Assistant product").
• Hashtags can be used in combination with other hashtags to create more specific or niche categories (e.g. #TwitterTips #SocialMediaMarketing), whereas mentions cannot be used in combination with other mentions in the same tweet.
• Hashtags are often used to join ongoing conversations or trends on Twitter, whereas mentions are used to start conversations or direct them towards specific users.

Overall, while both hashtags and mentions can be useful tools for engaging with the Twitter community, they serve different purposes and should be used in different ways.

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