The Use of Runic Hashtags on Instagram

Abstract

The runic script was used by the Germanic peoples for around 1500 years, until superseded by the Latin script. From the 1600s, runes have been studied extensively, and in the digital age, they have found a new use on social media platforms. This study investigates the use of runes on the popular social media platform Instagram, focusing on hashtags written in runes. It shows which futharks are the most popular, how extensively runes are used, and the kind of content associated with runic hashtags. In addition to uses linked to Norse and Germanic history and mythology, several everyday uses are also highlighted. The article also argues that the increased popularity of the runes on social media platforms will create new avenues for research into their contemporary functions.