How-to · Step-by-step
How to cite social media
Citing a social-media post means recording the author and handle, the post’s text up to a limit, the platform, the date, and the URL.
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Step by step
How to do it
1.Identify the author and handle
Note the account name and its handle. APA gives the real name (if known) followed by "[@handle]"; MLA and Chicago likewise pair the name and the handle.
2.Capture the post text
Copy the post text up to your style’s limit — the first 20 words in APA — keeping the original spelling, capitalisation and any emoji. MLA reproduces a short post in full.
3.Note the content type
State what the post is and whether it carries media — APA adds a bracketed descriptor such as "[Post]", "[Image attached]" or "[Video]".
4.Record the platform and date
Name the platform (X, Facebook, Instagram) and the full date of the post, formatted to your style.
5.Copy the URL
Copy the direct URL to the individual post, not the profile page, so a reader can reach the exact item.
6.Assemble the entry
Arrange the elements in your style’s order. If the post is from a private or restricted account, cite it as personal communication instead.
APA 7th edition
Format: Author [@handle]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of the post [Descriptor]. Platform. URL — Worked example: Smith, J. [@janesmith]. (2021, March 14). Citation matters more than ever in a noisy information landscape [Post]. X. https://x.com/janesmith/status/12345 In-text: (Smith, 2021). Reproduce the text up to 20 words exactly, keep emoji, add a bracketed content descriptor, name the platform, and link to the specific post.
MLA 9th edition
Format: Author [@handle]. "Full text of the post." Platform, Day Month Year, Time, URL. — Worked example: Smith, Jane [@janesmith]. "Citation matters more than ever in a noisy information landscape." X, 14 Mar. 2021, 9:30 a.m., x.com/janesmith/status/12345. In-text: (Smith). Reproduce a short post in full, in quotation marks, keeping original spelling; the platform is the container, italicised, with the date, time and URL.
Chicago 17th edition (notes–bibliography)
Social-media content is usually cited in a note. First footnote: 1. Jane Smith (@janesmith), "Citation matters more than ever in a noisy information landscape," X, March 14, 2021, https://x.com/janesmith/status/12345. — Bibliography (if required): Smith, Jane (@janesmith). "Citation matters more than ever in a noisy information landscape." X, March 14, 2021. https://x.com/janesmith/status/12345. Quote the post text, name the platform and date, and give the URL.
Common questions
FAQ
How much of the post do I quote?+
It depends on the style. APA uses the first 20 words of the post as the title, adding an ellipsis if it is cut off. MLA reproduces a short post in full, in quotation marks. Both keep the original spelling, capitalisation and any emoji, even where there are errors.
How do I format the author and handle?+
Pair the name with the handle. APA gives the real name (if known) then "[@handle]"; MLA does the same with the handle in square brackets; Chicago puts the handle in parentheses after the name. When only the handle is known, use it alone in the author position.
How do I cite a post from a private account?+
If your readers cannot reach the post because the account is private or restricted, cite it as personal communication — in the text only, with no reference-list entry in APA — because an unretrievable source cannot be listed for others to find.
Going deeper
