The Power of #Hashtags in Kenya

What is a hashtag?  A hash in an electronic language is the sign (#) and a tag is an accompaniment of something. This simply means accompanying any word with the sign (#) makes a hashtag. For instance, #Business is a hashtag.

Kenya is almost becoming the land of hashtags. Twitter is taking Kenya by storm and the train has already left the station and those who are not on board are likely never to catch up. Every coming day, the twitter conversation in Kenya revolves around hashtags. This begs the question, do hashtags work? What is the power of hashtags in Kenya? Do they have any effect social-economic aspects of the country?

Read: The Power of Social Media in Kenya’s Travel Industry

Hashtags do work. They are proving to be harboring an immense powerful power that is beyond measure. They are being used both for negative and positive aspects, both to build and to demolish.

Businesses in Kenya have realized the power of hashtags and majority of them have taken the opportunity to thrive. Many businesses have made their products and services known through the use of online platforms especially twitter and this is where hashtags come into play.

However, some businesses have suffered as a result of the use of these hashtags. Some competitors who feel threatened by the other party are hiring and sponsoring some slandering hashtags to bring down others so that they can thrive. Don’t be surprised to the fact that Chase Bank came down in a day as a result of a #Hashtag.

This is where Kenyans are busy utilizing all forms of hashtags to get to each other. On twitter, by the use of hashtags, Kenyans are cutting each other’s throats and burying themselves alive. If you want to know that hatred, tribalism and all manner of evil in the political world in Kenya is alive and kicking, just visit twitter and see what Kenyans are sharing. Kenya might burn as a result of hashtags and this power should not be underestimated.

Twitter has brought people together. Kenyans have been able to interact and exchange ideas by use of this tool. People have called for actions, for instance for justice through the use of a hashtag, and they have had their way. Kenyans have also been able to come together and contribute finances to help each other at time of need like paying of medical bills by the click of a hashtag.

The world has been digitally revolutionized. We cannot fight change. If you fight change, change will change you negatively. The best way to manage change is to embrace it and try to make it work for the productivity and for the well being of our society. Remember, change is constant. Change is inevitable. Nothing changes like change.