2

When I look at the current Twitter trends for the United States, I find tags like:

  • #SEAvsMIN
  • #SundayFunday
  • #IShouldNotBeAllowed
  • #MakeAShowChildish

When investigating further, one can find out, that by #SEAvsMIN the NFC match between Seattle Seahawks Minnesota Vikings is meant.

But what about the other, less meaningful hashtags?

Is there any way to get definitions of them programmatically?

Is there a resource (maybe an API) which can provide information about such hashtags?

4
  • "Encrypt"? Don't you mean "define"?
    – ale
    Commented Jan 10, 2016 at 21:21
  • @AlE.: Yes, encrypt, define, etc. Just so I know what is meant by those hashtags. Commented Jan 10, 2016 at 21:39
  • Encrypt is nothing like define.
    – ale
    Commented Jan 10, 2016 at 21:40
  • @AlE. Sorry, I meant decrypt. Commented Jan 10, 2016 at 21:42

2 Answers 2

3

No, there isn't. There is no central repository of hashtags, much less their definitions. The definition is whatever the majority of people who use it say it is. Anyone can make up a hashtag; it only becomes useful if other people decide to use it.

Some entities try to promote some organization. The NFL, as you've seen, promotes hashtags of the form {abbreviation of visiting team}vs{abbreviation of home team}. But, as I said, anyone can create a hashtag just by using it.

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashtag

3

There is no way of getting a definition of all possible hashtags ever made. Hashtags are a community-created way of organising information on Twitter. And because of their grassroots origin, they are still a very open, egalitarian tool: anyone can create (randomly make up with no real rules) and use any hashtag. There are new hashtags created all the time, therefore no such list can exists to define what each means.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.