Hashtag Day: #StopAsianHate, #SB19, #BGYO, and other top PH Twitter hashtags in the first half of 2021

It has been 14 years since the birth of hashtags on Twitter—and to this day, they have continued to serve as a tool to raise awareness of important issues, forge strong connections with others, and communicate ideas. 

In the first half of 2021, Filipinos have used such tags to spark conversations on various topics that can be classified into three: what’s happening around the world, the power of entertainment, and passion-driven communities.

The hashtag #StopAsianHate has been tweeted over 500,000 times in the Philippines. It's a social movement aimed at putting a stop to violence against the Asian community, which has significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Filipinos also show solidarity and concern for fellow Asians and kababayans abroad by using the hashtag to amplify their support,” the social media platform explained.

Apart from important causes, it’s also a given that Filipinos are very much into entertainment. That’s why it came as no surprise when #AribaRabiya trended on Twitter as a show of support for Rabiya Mateo who represented the country at the 69^th Miss Universe pageant. 

This wouldn’t be complete without hashtags relating to different fandoms—be it in the local or international scene. #SB19 reigned supreme in local trends with over 31 million tweets as well as #BTSMeal, #BGYO, #DarrenEspanto, #MayWard, and #MaineMendoza. 

Also hot on the site were passion-driven topics like art and gaming. Netizens have enjoyed using the hashtag #GenshinImpact as they shared their game progress, character-inspired cosplays, and fan art. It has been tweeted over 2.7 million times in the Philippines.

Additionally, #artph has become the talk of the town, allowing artists from different parts of the country “to inspire fellow artists, promote their works, and even use it as a tool to express one’s stand or opinion" through their own pieces. Various art forms and styles have so far been showcased, including digital art, comics, and traditional painting.

How are you celebrating this special day? Twitter just launched the #HashtagDay emoji that you can use all day to have fun conversations with users across the globe. Happy Hashtag Day, everyone!