Fast forward a decade, and globally, an average of 125 million hashtags are shared every single day on Twitter.
Some have been used to highlight injustice, others to promote political ideas.
On its' birthday, we bring you the top ten hashtags used over the last 10 years.
#JeSuisCharlie
The Charlie Hebdo magazine shootings and terror attacks in Paris in January 2015, generated a lot of tweets with the hashtags #JeSuisParis and #JeSuisCharlie.
The rule of 2015: the more you try to silence us, the louder we get. #JeSuisCharlie
— Rachel Coats (@chely_bean) January 12, 2015
They became slogans around the world as people were determined to show their solidarity with the victims and ordinary Parisians.
UPDATED: #JeSuisCharlie spreads around the world on Twitterhttp://t.co/bKMjDaUkL0 pic.twitter.com/o7d01UZHzZ
— Twitter Data (@TwitterData) January 9, 2015
Now the hashtag #JeSuis — which means "I am" in French — is used widely on social media in the aftermath of may terror attacks worldwide, such as the one in Barcelona, Spain on August 17 when a van mowed down innocent civilians.
Thinking so much of all those killed and injured and affected by the barbaric and cowardly attack in #Barcelona #jesuisbarcelona
— Seema Malhotra (@SeemaMalhotra1) August 18, 2017
#BlackLivesMatter
Social media has become a common place for groups and campaigners to share their ideas and organize protests.
The #BlackLivesMatter hashtag has been used 12,000,000 times, and it has transformed from a hashtag that unites people to a political movement.
Robert E. Lee statue torn down in Charlottesville wasn’t a historical relic, but a potent symbol of racism’s present https://t.co/WYo4SlHJLs
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) 23 August 2017
Let's get this straight once and for all. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/oecXhWuKGS
— Asha Dahya (@Ashadahya) August 23, 2017
#CecilTheLion
When Walter Palmer, a US dentist posed next to a lion he had killed in Zimbabwe, Twitter went into overdrive.
Palmer was instantly targeted on the social networking site, while the big cat became a legend with his own hashtag, #CecilTheLion.
#CecilTheLion's son #Xanda, was killed by a trophy hunter. Pls sign to #BanTrophyHunting: https://t.co/F9dpSyM8KX pic.twitter.com/DZSGg61A1w
— Leen Neus (@Leentje_7) 11 August 2017
#BringBackOurGirls
The #BringBackOurGirls hashtag was used to demand the safe return of Nigerian school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group active in the region.
From former First Lady Michelle Obama to actresses and singers — everyone chipped in.
Our prayers are with the missing Nigerian girls and their families. It's time to #BringBackOurGirls. —mo pic.twitter.com/glDKDotJRt
— First Lady- Archived (@FLOTUS44) 7 May 2014
Sending prayers to Nigerian families who are missing their daughters. It's time to #bringbackourgirls http://t.co/WV9AisBWxj
— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) May 8, 2014
#BringBackOurGirls NOW!! pic.twitter.com/lRnv6EZDTd
— Sean Diddy Combs (@diddy) May 9, 2014
#IceBucketChallenge
6,200,000 uses of the #IceBucketChallenge hashtag on Twitter helped make the awareness campaign so incredibly popular.
In the summer of 2014, you couldn't log onto Twitter, and even Facebook or Instagram, without seeing a friend or colleague being doused with cold water in a bid to raise awareness of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease.
3 years ago today #BenedictCumberbatch completed his awesome #IceBucketChallenge… Now with over 6 million views ❄️ https://t.co/i0sYhXgrE8
— MND Association (@mndassoc) 22 August 2017
#IndyRef
The Scottish independence referendum, otherwise known as #IndyRef, monopolized much of Twitter during September 2014. The hashtag was used 8,500,000 times.
It was Labour that talked about 'family', 'blood' and 'foreigners' during #IndyRef. After that they made immigration control mugs.
— Ross Colquhoun (@rosscolquhoun) 18 August 2017
#GivingTuesday
In an attempt to counteract consumerism the United Nations Foundation gave life to #GivingTuesday. It was used 3,100,000 times.
It's #NationalNonprofitDay! Celebrate the nonprofits in your community by sharing how you give back today & on #GivingTuesday! pic.twitter.com/7QOPPnybNg
— #GivingTuesday (@GivingTues) 17 August 2017
#MakeAmericaGreatAgain
This was a favorite hashtag with the US President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign. He used it to galvanize crowds, and promote the fact that when he is president he would put America first to help bolster its economy.
The president continues to use the slogan extensively during his speeches as well as on his Twitter account.
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/RzePiucV3h
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2017
#Grenfell
This hashtag provoked raw emotion as people expressed their hurt after a fire ripped through a London tower block in June 2017.
Schools & community organisations are working with @RBKC to provide support to local young people. Info https://t.co/SJ5YPnAtF0 #Grenfell pic.twitter.com/uhRTlnAiyO
— Grenfell Response (@grenfellsupport) 23 August 2017
#Ferguson
Ferguson was a popular hashtag after Michael Brown, an unarmed young man from Ferguson, Missouri, was shot by police.
For those not in #Ferguson: what questions do you still have? Are their angles/content you want explored haven't seen yet?
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 13, 2014
Brown's death led to a social uprising in Ferguson as people battled against the police due to his unjust shooting.
