We’ve all been guilty of it at some point: using social media ‘hashtags’ not to follow a particular topic or participate in a discussion, but to make a (terrible) joke or self-referentially describe a tweet or a post. The ‘#’ has evolved from a utility to better connect with others to a too-cute way to misplace a compound adjective after the conclusion of a thought or a sentence, or just generally an effort that screams #tryingtoohard.
#ICYMI, Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake lampooned the practice in a scene from Fallon’s Late Night program, sharing a couch and vocalizing hashtags in an incoherent, stream-of-consciousness conversation that touched on cookies, Halloween, whatever.
“Hey, check it out: I brought you some cookies, hashtag homemade, hashtag oatmeal-raisin, hashtag ‘show me the cookie’!” Timberlake exclaimed as he handed a container of cookies to Fallon and then made it all the more unbearable by making a ‘hashtag’ motion with his fingers.
“Sweet! Hashtag don’t mind if I don’t,” Fallon replied, before chomping into a cookie and making a — surprise! — Cookie Monster joke.
Just remember, kids: If it sounds dumb out loud, it’s probably dumb in writing.
#StopHashtagAbuse.
(h / t Mashable)
