Keywords prepended with ‘#’ related to culinary photography and gastronomy on the Instagram platform function as a categorization and search tool. For example, a user posting a photograph of a freshly baked pizza might use hashtags such as #pizza, #homemade, or #italianfood to increase visibility among users searching for related content.
The practice of using these terms provides significant advantages for both content creators and consumers. Content creators expand their reach, increase engagement, and potentially grow their following. Consumers benefit from a more efficient search process, discovering new accounts and culinary inspirations aligned with their interests. The evolution of this practice mirrors the growth of Instagram itself, reflecting a shift from simple photo sharing to a dynamic visual search engine for food-related content.