Yes, you can post without hashtags on TikTok, and the algorithm can still understand your content, but using relevant hashtags does still work to boost discoverability by categorizing your video and connecting it with interested audiences and trends, especially for new creators or niche topics. While some large creators skip them, relying on good content and the algorithm, using 3-5 targeted hashtags (mix of trending and niche) is often recommended to give your videos the best chance to reach the right people.
You don't need hashtags to grow on TikTok 🚫 Here's the truth 👉 TikTok doesn't push your video because of hashtags, it's all about making your video topical and how well your content matches what people are searching for.
You don't need any hashtags to go viral. If we're being honest, it might even be better to not use hashtags. when you're going viral. Before you keep scrolling, hear me out.
In 2022, head of Instagram Adam Mosseri posted to his feed that hashtags will not help you get more views and engagement on your post. This was confusing to users because then the question was, “What does help us become more find-able?” Instagram implemented a new search feature that makes it easier to find posts.
The TikTok 3-second rule is a content strategy emphasizing that you must hook a viewer within the first three seconds of a video to prevent them from scrolling away, significantly impacting watch time, completion rates, and algorithmic favorability for the For You Page (FYP). This rule highlights the need for immediate visual impact, strong curiosity gaps (questions/mysteries), fast cuts, emotional triggers, or bold text to stop the scroll and signal video quality to the algorithm, though some suggest the attention span is shrinking to even one second.
TikTok doesn't pay per view. Instead, it pays per 1,000 views. TikTok pays between $0.02 - $0.04 per 1000 views for a creator's video via the “TikTok Creators Fund.” TikTok has been actively launching programs to boost the earnings of the creators and influencers on TikTok.
All you gotta do is:
It's not a simple yes or no.
Hashtags still play a role in helping you reach and categorise your target audience, but they're no longer the single most important factor. Instagram now prioritises high-quality, keyword-optimised content, and your posts should reflect this shift.
TikTok: Lightning-fast virality
According to social media marketing experts and industry observations, videos reaching 1 Million views within three days or 3-5 Million views in a week often get labeled as “viral.” However, TikTok hasn't officially defined these metrics and viral thresholds can vary significantly.
Social media is a search engine, so, optimise for it
People aren't clicking on hashtags. They're typing full questions into search bars. In fact, 67% of Gen Z now use social media as their primary search engine instead of Google (HubSpot, 2025). And algorithms are adapting.
To make $2,000 a month on TikTok, you generally need at least 10,000-50,000 followers, but this heavily depends on your views and engagement, with many creators at the 50k-100k mark earning $2k-$10k monthly through brand deals and affiliate links, not just direct TikTok payments. You'll likely need millions of qualified monthly views via the Creator Rewards Program, with higher engagement and niche content leading to better pay rates (RPM), often requiring videos over 1 minute long to meet program standards.
No, 7,000 views is generally not considered viral, as virality usually means reaching hundreds of thousands or millions of views rapidly, but it can be very successful for a small creator, representing a huge spike over their usual numbers and indicating good performance for their specific audience. Virality depends on your baseline: for a large account, 7,000 is low, but for a micro-influencer getting 100 views, 7,000 is a massive viral hit for them.
Use trending sounds and hashtags: These help your content show up in more searches and For You feeds. Ask questions in your captions: Make your viewers talk. Comments and responses are key ranking factors. Want to know more? Read our 11 tested tips for boosting your TikTok engagement.
The 3x3 hashtag rule is a social media strategy for platforms like Instagram and TikTok, suggesting you use three categories of hashtags, with three hashtags in each category, for a total of nine relevant tags per post, focusing on your audience (who), your offering (what), and the problem solved (why) to boost discoverability. It's about intentionality, not just quantity, aiming for quality, targeted tags over spammy lists, though Instagram is also testing limits of just 3-5 highly specific tags.
It's not just a crackdown though. Hashtags no longer hold the same importance. Earlier this year, Instagram boss Adam Mosseri admitted that hashtags now only “help with categorisation, but not distribution”. In other words: hashtags help organise your content on Instagram, but won't magically boost your reach.
You don't need any hashtags to go viral. If we're being honest, it might even be better to not use hashtags.
The TikTok 3-second rule means creators have only about three seconds (sometimes less) to hook viewers before they scroll away, making the start of the video crucial for retention, algorithm favorability, and higher view counts. This short window demands immediate action, value, or visual interest, often by showing the end result first, using fast cuts, text overlays, or trending sounds to stop the scroll and signal quality to TikTok's algorithm.
Creator Rewards Program (Launched 2024): Pays $0.40–$1.00 per 1,000 views (about $400–$1,000 for 1M views).
You can say you made a viral video if it gets at least 10,000 to 20,000 views or likes in the first 24 hours. For reels, they are considered viral videos if they achieve at least 100,000 views.
According to experts, used to be helpful to sort the content but not needed to make it viral. And TikTok has the most advanced AI algorithm in the market. Many creators on the platform believe they no longer need hashtags to sort and make their content viral.
If you want to learn how to grow your TikTok reach, consistently using hashtags is essential. Studies show that users with at least 1-3 hashtags on their posts usually get around 27% more engagement.
To perform hashtag analysis, select relevant hashtags and use an analytics tool to track their performance. Focus on metrics like reach, impressions, and engagement. Analyze sentiment and identify top-performing posts to understand what resonates with your audience.
For content creators and influencers, appearing on a user's FYP can significantly boost visibility and reach, similar to how the Twitter algorithm can amplify posts to a wider audience. This increased exposure can lead to more followers, higher engagement rates, and potentially viral content.
9 Tips to Increase TikTok Views
Shadow banning is an automatic process done by TikTok's algorithm to protect users from copyright issues, spam, threats, and inappropriate content. Essentially, it's TikTok's way of putting your account on a timeout — which can negatively impact your reach, discoverability, and stunt your growth on the platform.