Instagram now lets you follow hashtags

Instagram is no longer limited to following people and places; you can now even follow hashtags so you see top posts and Stories about a topic on your home page. Rather than having to dig this content out of search or the Explore tab, you can see the best #catvideos or #Asiangourmet tutorials no matter who posts them.

A hashtag will basically save you from aimlessly clicking through profiles and instead serve as a gateway to more of what you want to see, more often. There's even a "related hashtags" section that will keep you clicking in the right direction any time you open the app.

"Everyday, millions of people share photos and videos and tag them with relevant hashtags. Hashtags represent the many interests and passions of our community. To make these posts even more discoverable, we're introducing hashtags you can follow," the company said in a blog.

Following a hashtag is just like following a friend. To get started, search for a topic you are interested in or tap on a hashtag from any post. You will see relevant hashtags displayed in the search results along with related accounts.

When you find a hashtag you like, open the hashtag page and tap on the follow button. You'll begin seeing top posts from that hashtag in your feed and some of the latest stories in your stories bar. You can always unfollow a hashtag at any time. Users can also check the hashtags other people follow, in their profiles.