Hashtags help discovery but they are not magic. Use three to five specific niche tags instead of giant generic ones you cannot rank in. Think of them as keywords that tell the platform your topic. They support reach, they do not replace it, so a strong hook and watch time still matter most. Skip banned and spammy tags.
How to use hashtags now
Hashtags are topic keywords, not a popularity contest.
Specific over generic
Niche tags you can rank in beat huge tags you cannot.
Treat them as keywords
They tell the platform what the content is about.
Avoid spammy tags
Banned or junk tags can suppress your reach.