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Hashtag Turns 10! #HappyBirthdayHashtag
It’s been 10 years since hashtags were first introduced to the world! Although the symbol ‘#’ has been around since maybe the invention of the keyboard itself, the use of the character to join a conversation on social media is now 10 years old.
Born only a decade ago, an average of 125 million hashtags are now shared on Twitter every single day. First invented by Chris Messina, a Google engineer at the time, hashtags were meant to be the pointy prefix to a word at the end of a message. The idea was to use hashtags as a handy way of separating messages into easily searchable terms for groups, themes or topics. While a similar concept existed in chatrooms, he was the first one to consider using the character on the powerful and scalable social media platforms. He brought a group together using the hashtag #barcamp.
how do you feel about using # (pound) for groups. As in #barcamp [msg]?
— ⌗ChrisMessina (@chrismessina) August 23, 2007
The most used hashtag in 2007 was used around 9000 times whereas the most used hashtag in 2017 so far has been used over 300 million times. Ever since its humble start on Twitter, it has also been ever present on Facebook and its absence would make Instagram all but unusable.
The term hashtag was coined by blogger Stowe Boyd, three days after Messina’s message, who found it a perfect distillation of his own idea of “groupings” or “ad hoc assemblages of people sharing a common interest implied by a tag.” Interestingly, the hashtag was not ‘invented’ for Twitter but for the Internet in general. Slowly, the world caught on to the idea of grouping and the first big hashtag campaign was started in October that year. Following a fire that had broken out in California, Nate Ridder tried to collect reports regarding the fire using the hashtag #sandiegofire which allowed many people to understand the utility of the slanted grid.
To celebrate 10 glorious years of hashtag’s uniting people all over the world, let’s take a look at what are some of the most used hashtags.
The most tweeted television show of all times is not Game of Thrones but #TheWalkingDead, while the most tweeted about the movie is #StarWars.
The first international movement mobilized on Twitter to bring people together to work towards creating a fairer society for black people was the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
The color of a dress was turned into a huge scientific experiment about how humans see color. The color of #TheDress still is a huge debate. It all started with a photo of a dress and whether it was black and blue or white and gold.
A United Nations Women’s Campaign for gender equality was started in 2014 with the aim to inspire men to understand and end inequalities experienced by women. #HeForShe turned into a platform for people to express their own battles with gender inequality in everyday life and campaign for change.
In 2017, one of the most popular hashtags was started by Carter Wilkerson in an attempt to get free chicken nuggets from Wendys. #nuggsforcarter beat Ellen Degeneres’ Oscar selfie with 3.42 million retweets!
India’s fintech sector is entering a new phase of growth, and the spotlight is increasingly shifting toward underserved consumers in smaller cities and towns. The recent funding secured by WeRize reflects growing investor confidence in platforms that are expanding access to financial products such as credit, insurance, and other services for customers who have traditionally remained outside the reach of formal financial institutions. As digital adoption deepens across the country, fintech companies are finding significant opportunities beyond metro markets.
What makes this trend notable is the industry’s transition from simply enabling digital payments to building broader financial ecosystems. Rather than focusing on a single service, fintech firms are expanding their product portfolios to meet multiple customer needs under one platform. This approach not only strengthens customer relationships but also creates more sustainable business models by increasing engagement and lifetime value.
The larger implication is that India’s next fintech growth story may be driven by financial inclusion rather than convenience alone. Investors are increasingly backing companies that combine technology, data-driven underwriting, and localized distribution to serve emerging consumer segments. As competition intensifies, the ability to build trust, offer relevant products, and address the financial needs of Bharat could become a key differentiator for the next generation of fintech leaders.
OpenAI’s introduction of trusted contact safeguards for potential self-harm cases reflects a major evolution in AI responsibility.
Beyond Moderation
AI safety is shifting from simply blocking harmful content to actively supporting user wellbeing through:
- early risk detection
- human-centered intervention
- stronger emotional safety frameworks
This positions AI as more than an information tool—it becomes part of broader digital support systems.
Key Industry Impact
Trusted contact models could influence future safety standards across:
- AI assistants
- mental health platforms
- social media
- digital health services
The Bigger Challenge
While promising, success depends on balancing:
- privacy
- consent
- ethical intervention
- user trust
Final Take
This move signals that the future of AI safety may rely not just on preventing harmful responses, but on building more responsible, human-connected support systems.
Rozana, India’s leading rural retail platform, has secured ₹290 crore ($35 million) in a Series B funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), with participation from Omidyar Network India, Vivid Capital, and Tana Investment Holding. This Rozana funding brings its total capital to over ₹500 crore, fueling hyperlocal expansion in underserved rural markets. Founded in 2021 by brothers Prashant and Prateek Chauhan, the startup’s phygital model blends micro-stores, app-based ordering, and last-mile delivery to connect 5 million+ users in 12 states with brands like ITC and HUL.
The ₹290 crore investment will supercharge Rozana’s rural omnichannel retail strategy, targeting 5x growth in 18 months. Plans include adding 5,000 micro-stores in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan; AI-powered inventory tech; and new categories like groceries and electronics. By empowering 20,000+ rural micro-entrepreneurs, Rozana taps into India’s $700 billion rural retail boom, where smartphone penetration and UPI drive 12% annual growth.
This Rozana Series B milestone positions it as a frontrunner against rivals like Ninjacart, eyeing unicorn status by 2028 amid ONDC tailwinds. CEO Prashant Chauhan emphasized, “We’re building rural prosperity through accessible premium brands.” For more on Rozana funding news and rural retail trends, stay updated on India’s startup ecosystem.
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