Instagram just found a way to make hashtags relevant again

On Tuesday, Instagram announced a new feature that allows users to follow hashtags on their Instagram feeds. You can track topics, hobbies or animals that interest you by following a hashtag. First, search the topic you are interested in by pressing on the search icon (magnifying glass) and selecting "tags" in the search bar.

You can now follow hashtags on Instagram. There's even a "related hashtags" section that will keep you clicking in the right direction any time you open the app. It also might make you more likely to tack them on to the end of your own posts. Tapping on this will not unfollow the tag but will help Instagram understand what kind of posts you do not want to see.

Hashtags have been a part of Instagram since forever, and as fun as it is to look up #cats or #pugs, they've always required extra work on the user's part.

Likewise, super-popular hashtags may not be desirable to follow since they could end up being spammed by people trying to take advantage of high follower numbers.

The development of the new Instagram feature was headed by Matthew Ogle, the same man behind Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist.

Alternatively, if you like your Instagram feed to be more curated, you could do things the old way, and just search up a hashtag when you feel like it.

Twitter says the "threads" feature will be available on iOS, Android, and Twitter.com in the coming weeks.

Following hashtags is just the beginning of how we're giving you the tools to discover and be inspired by our community. You can find these on any user's profile. It's also a nice way to identify people to follow. Instagram also said that it will use automated and manual systems to flag down inappropriate posts and block their posters.

If this is just the beginning, we're looking forward to seeing what other new and revolutionary ways Instagram and Facebook can think of to connect communities with users.

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