TikTok Enforces Hashtag Limit on Posts

TikTok has now enforced a hashtag limit on posts to increase the quality of your content, an update that will impact your reach and visibility.

Regular TikTok users might have seen this notification limiting hashtags in videos for the last few weeks. 

From this example of user @justgee92, TikTok has now limited videos to no more than five hashtags. This limits the number of relevant tags creators can use in their posts, which will result in more concise tags.

Why Hashtag Cap Makes Sense?

This is a change that is correlated with the changing dynamics of algorithms for social media platforms. Hashtags have become less crucial in determining the best content for platforms as they depend more on user interaction signals and AI-driven suggestions rather than manual search results.

Other social networks are implementing similar rules, with X removing them from ads, LinkedIn has deprioritized hashtags for discovery, while Threads has limited postings to one per post. Instagram has been testing a five-hashtag limit in order to limit spammy and unrelated tag use.

TikTok Rationale Behind the Update

Instagram’s Chief Adam Mosseri has emphasized that excessive use of hashtags does not work either way. The limit on hashtags on TikTok could serve to cut down on the clutter of feeds for content, reduce the misuse of popular tags, and enhance the relevance of content in users’ discovery.

Although TikTok has not yet officially clarified the reason behind the decision, a user on Reddit said that TikTok is aiming to improve user experience through “reducing clutter on posts in-stream,” eliminating usage of hashtags for spam, as well as “improving the relevance of content discovery” by implementing more strategic hashtag use.

What’s Next?

Fewer hashtags mean that marketers and creators need to be more careful and thoughtful in their choice of tags to increase exposure. TikTok’s Trends dashboard remains an invaluable source for identifying the most popular hashtags that can inform your plan of action.

For now, adjusting to the new hashtag policy on TikTok is vital to maintain an effective reach for content and engagement.

Final Thoughts

TikTok’s decision reaffirms the wider trend of the industry that favors high-quality, targeted hashtag use over broad, overtagging. This means prioritizing relevancy and a meaningful connection with hashtags, rather than quantity.

Find trending hashtags by accessing the TikTok Trends dashboard.