I feel like hashtags (where you can put them on any message you want) aren't quite the same thing, but maybe that's just because it makes cross-posting more of a blended experience, where I can't tell if replies are linked to the #localcitynearme or the #coffee tag. Their example post about the coffee shop is a great example -- I might be interested in the discussion if it was near me, in which case comments of other coffee shops around the corner might be fantastic. But if I was reading the post because I follow that user for their singing in a jazz band that I listen to, and I live in a different country, it's just total noise that I wouldn't want to read.
I've only viewed the 'web app store' page and not the real app store page, maybe there are more details there.