Meet the man credited with inventing the #hashtag
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Meet the man credited with inventing the #hashtag
ABS-CBN News
Published Jan 08, 2019 12:05 PM PHT
MANILA -- Technology should "reinforce the best parts of humanity," according to a technology entrepreneur credited with inventing the hashtag, that has been used on social media to connect people and spark revolutions.
MANILA -- Technology should "reinforce the best parts of humanity," according to a technology entrepreneur credited with inventing the hashtag, that has been used on social media to connect people and spark revolutions.
"Simplicity, accessibility and usability" are key to the success of the hashtag or typing the pound sign before the first character of a word or phrase, Chris Messina told ANC Tuesday.
"Simplicity, accessibility and usability" are key to the success of the hashtag or typing the pound sign before the first character of a word or phrase, Chris Messina told ANC Tuesday.
Messina said Twitter at first rejected his hashtag idea but he persevered. Now, the hashtag is used widely on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and most recently roused victims of sexual harassment in the workplace to launch the #MeToo movement.
Messina said Twitter at first rejected his hashtag idea but he persevered. Now, the hashtag is used widely on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and most recently roused victims of sexual harassment in the workplace to launch the #MeToo movement.
In the Philippines, hashtags are used to track the average of 20 typhoons that hit the country every year as well as earthquakes.
In the Philippines, hashtags are used to track the average of 20 typhoons that hit the country every year as well as earthquakes.
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"I've always been kind of a strange kid. Having a great deal of curiosity about the world, specifically about people, led me to a series of thoughts and ideas and thoughts about, one, what's the solution that can work for lots of of different people as opposed to just me, both weirdos and normal people alike," Messina said.
"I've always been kind of a strange kid. Having a great deal of curiosity about the world, specifically about people, led me to a series of thoughts and ideas and thoughts about, one, what's the solution that can work for lots of of different people as opposed to just me, both weirdos and normal people alike," Messina said.
"Secondly, what is a way of creating software and technology that brings people together. It's very important to create technology that reinforces the best parts of our humanity, especially now. That influenced a lot of the things I worked on," he said.
"Secondly, what is a way of creating software and technology that brings people together. It's very important to create technology that reinforces the best parts of our humanity, especially now. That influenced a lot of the things I worked on," he said.
The hashtag was born 11 years ago, during what Messina likened to the Neolithic Period when content was beginning to shift to mobile devices from desktop computers.
The hashtag was born 11 years ago, during what Messina likened to the Neolithic Period when content was beginning to shift to mobile devices from desktop computers.
"We needed a way that was very simple, very easy to label conversations," he said, attributing his success to both timing and luck.
"We needed a way that was very simple, very easy to label conversations," he said, attributing his success to both timing and luck.
"It's very humbling to be able to imagine that contributions that you make to these platforms that exist can actually become part of the behavior of people all around the world," he said.
"It's very humbling to be able to imagine that contributions that you make to these platforms that exist can actually become part of the behavior of people all around the world," he said.
Hashtags are "everywhere" in the Philippines, said Messina, who has been in the country for over a week.
Hashtags are "everywhere" in the Philippines, said Messina, who has been in the country for over a week.
"It seems as though in terms of where there's a lot of stuff happening, it's here," he said.
"It seems as though in terms of where there's a lot of stuff happening, it's here," he said.
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