Elon Musk to Ban Hashtags in X Ads Starting June 27

In a move that’s already sparking debate among marketers and users alike, Elon Musk has announced that hashtags will be banned from all advertisements on X (formerly Twitter) starting June 27, 2025.

Musk made the declaration via a post on his official X handle:

“Starting tomorrow, the esthetic nightmare that is hashtags will be banned from ads on X.”

This announcement follows Musk’s December 2024 call to reduce hashtag use, after feedback that hashtags originally meant to improve discoverability had instead become overused in paid promotions, cluttering timelines and reducing visual appeal.

The ban is Musk’s latest effort to streamline the platform’s user interface, favoring a cleaner, more minimalist look.

While some advertisers are scrambling to update campaigns, many users are applauding the change:

“Finally, a feed that looks like a conversation, not a billboard,” one user wrote.

Others have described the move as “bold and visionary,” praising Musk’s commitment to user-centric design, even at the risk of alienating some in the advertising sector.

What Advertisers Should Know

Starting June 27:

• No hashtags will be allowed in paid ad copy

• Ads containing hashtags may be automatically rejected

• Organic posts (non-paid) will still support hashtags, for now

• Future policy updates could further restrict hashtag usage across the platform

Why Is Musk Doing This?

Musk has long criticized what he sees as outdated internet design elements. By removing hashtags from ads, he aims to:

• Reduce visual noise

• Create a more seamless and native ad experience

• Encourage higher-quality messaging from brands

This move may signal broader changes to X’s advertising framework and content strategy, as Musk continues reshaping the platform into what he envisions as the “everything app.”

Whether this becomes a turning point in digital advertising or just another Musk-ian experiment remains to be seen.