PostEaseWhat hashtags do now
Instagram has been explicit that hashtags no longer directly boost how far a post reaches. Their remaining job is categorization, helping the system understand what a post is about, and helping people who are actively searching a specific hashtag find it. That still happens, for a narrower set of viewers than a "general reach" strategy would assume.
Fewer, more specific tags tend to outperform many broad ones
A small number of hashtags that describe the post's specific topic works better than a long list of broad, high-volume tags. A niche tag reaches an audience likely to care; a huge generic tag mostly competes against enormous volume with little targeting benefit.
What drives reach instead
The caption text, the content itself, and engagement in the minutes after posting carry more weight than hashtags do now. Treat hashtags as a small, targeted addition to a post that is already strong on its own, not a substitute for one.