Tune into a Hashtag

By
Friday, 15 July 2011

Tuning into a hashtag on Twitter is a handy way to dig into any interest, topic or timely conversation. Following live events like the Women’s World Cup (happening this week with the championship finals on Sunday) through its associated hashtag #WWC brings you to a stream of energetic Tweets from fans and athletes, as well as instant news and media from those on the ground keeping you up-to-date on the very latest.

On the other end of the spectrum, from this week’s Mumbai attacks arose the hashtag #here2help in support of those who were affected. By clicking on the hashtag in a Tweet or doing a direct search, you can see all the Tweets flowing in from those who are there as well as others who are sharing information and offering aid to those looking for missing family members or even medical assistance.

Discovering the hashtag associated with world events that matter to you is a wonderful way to zero-in on the most relevant information from broad perspectives. A stream of Tweets organized by a single hashtag can bring together people from around the world who are interested in that topic right now, creating a global conversation that anyone can follow.

Here are a few popular hashtags to tune into right now:

#HarryPotter: with the last Harry Potter movie finally in theaters, people are sharing reactions and excitement using this hashtag. Check it out to see what everyone is saying.

#TEDGlobal: a stream of incredible quotes, ideas and news from the biggest conference in the world that promotes innovative thinking. (The live event ends today but the Tweets will continue flowing for a while.)

#WWC: On Sunday this hashtag’s stream will be on fire with Tweets about the championship games. Don’t miss it!