Citing Social Media

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In an increasingly digital world, social media platforms have become one of the most popular sources of news, content, and information. But how should such sources be treated within citations and academic research? Below is a guide on how to cite some of the most frequently used social media sites in MLA format, APA format, and Chicago style.

How to Cite an Instagram Post

Citation Structure in MLA Format (9th ed.)

Last Name, First Name or Single username [handle if different from name]. “Photo Title” or Description. Instagram, Other contributors if applicable, Day month year posted, URL (omit http:// or https://).

Example:

History Channel. “This Day in History 2007.” Instagram, photographed by Bill Kravitz, 21 Jul. 2017, www.instagram.com/p/BW0FuFGj9Fp/?taken-by=history&hl=en.

 

Citation Structure in APA Format (6th ed.)

Account holder’s Last Name, First Initial or Username (Year, Date Published). Photo title [Photo description].  Retrieved from URL

Example:

History Channel [@history]. (2017, July 21). [This day in history, photo by Bill Kravitz]. Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/BW0FuFGj9Fp/?taken-by=history&hl=en.

 

Citation Structure in Chicago Style (16th ed.)

Account holder’s Last name, First name or Username. “Photo Title.” Instagram, Date published. Date accessed. URL.

Example:

History Channel. “This Day in History 2007.” Instagram, July 21, 2017. Accessed July 21, 2017. https://www.instagram.com/p/BW0FuFGj9Fp/?taken-by=history&hl=en.

 

How to Cite a Facebook Post

Citation Structure in MLA Format (9th ed.)

Last Name, First Name (or username or page name). “Title or first several words of the Facebook post…” Facebook, Day Month Year posted, URL without http:// or https://.

Example:

Carey, Theresa. “Elephant seals recognize vocal rhythms to avoid bullies…” Facebook, 20 Jul. 2017, www.facebook.com/pbs/.

 

Citation Structure in APA Format (6th ed.)

Lastname, Firstname. (Year, month day posted). First several words of Facebook post… [Facebook post]. Retrieved from URL

Example:

Carey, Theresa (2017, July 20). Elephant seals recognize vocal rhythms to avoid bullies. [Facebook post]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/pbs/.

 

Citation Structure in Chicago Style (16th ed.)

Lastname, Firstname. Facebook post. Month day, year posted. URL

Example:

Carey, Theresa. Facebook post. July 20, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/pbs/.

 

How to Cite a Tweet

Citation Structure in MLA Format (9th ed.)

Last Name, First Name (if available) [@TwitterHandle if different from name]. Description or “First several words of tweet…” Twitter, Day Month Year posted, URL (omit http:// or https://).

Example:

Britannica. “Nelson Mandela, who fought for racial equality and became South Africa’s 1st black president, was born #OTD in 1918…” Twitter, 18 Jul. 2017, twitter.com/Britannica/status/887382776747630594.

 

Citation Structure in APA Format (6th ed.)

Last name, F. [Twitter handle]. (Year, Month Day). Content of tweet [Tweet]. Retrieved from URL

Example:

Encyclopedia Britannica. [Britannica]. (2017, July 18). Nelson Mandela, who fought for racial equality and became South Africa’s 1st black president, was born #OTD in 1918. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/Britannica/status/887382776747630594

 

Citation Structure in Chicago Style (16th ed.)

First name Last name, Twitter post, Month Day, Year, Time, URL.

Example:

Encyclopedia Britannica, Twitter post, July 18, 2017, 11:45 a.m., https://twitter.com/Britannica/status/887382776747630594.

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How do I format an in-text citation for a TikTok post in APA style?

If you want to provide an in-text citation for a TikTok post in APA style, then all you need is the last name of the content creator and the date.

Format

Parenthetical citation: (Last Name, year)

Narrative citation: Last Name (year)

Example

(Samuels, 2021)

Samuels (2021)

 

How do I format a reference-list entry for a TikTok post in APA style?

In order to provide a reference list entry for a TikTok post in APA style, use the following format.

Format

Last Name, Initial. [TikTok handle]. (Year, Month Date). Name of the video. Hashtags used [Video]. TikTok. URL

Example

Sinclair, P. [@sinclairteaches]. (2022, January 23). How to focus. #motivation #inspiration #focus #mind [Video]. TikTok. https://vm.tiktok.com/xK5s5j

How do I format an in-text citation for a TikTok post in MLA style?

As per MLA style, TikTok posts are cited in-text in the same way one would cite other social media sources. Begin with the words that will be first in the works-cited list entry.

An in-text citation has two forms: citation in prose and parenthetical citation. A source should be mentioned in prose the first time. Thereafter, either type of citation can be used.

To provide an in-text citation for a TikTok post in MLA style, use the format below.

Format

Citation in Prose

Example

On TikTok, Oliver explains another version of the story.

Parenthetical Citation

(Contributor Name)

Example

However, this version does not corroborate the original version given (Oliver).

How do I format a reference-list entry for a TikTok post in MLA style?

As per the MLA handbook, 9th edition, the following formats are recommended for creating a works-cited entry for a TikTok video and a TikTok profile.

Format (Video)

Contributor Name [@handle]. “Name of the post #Hashtags.” TikTok, Date, URL.

Example

MiaElsa [@MiaElsa]. “How to be happy with what you eat #FoodIsGood.” TikTok, 2021, www.tiktok.com/@miaelsa/video/681542659485236365263.

Format (Profile)

Last Name, First Name. “Videos.” TikTok, Date, URL.

Example

Hart, Kevin. “Videos.” TikTok, 2019, www.tiktok.com/@imkevinhart?lang=en.

 

How do I format a footnote for a tweet in Chicago style (notes-bibliography)?

A tweet cited in a footnote should include the following information: author name and username, text of the post up to 160 characters within quotation marks, name of the social media platform, date and time the tweet was posted, and the URL. Note that the text of the tweet should be written exactly as it was posted; changes should not be made to capitalization, spelling, or punctuation.

Template

  1. Poster’s First Name Last Name (@Username), “Text of the tweet up to 160 characters,” Twitter, Month Day, Year, time, URL.

Example

  1. Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz), “I can’t explain it, but sometimes the olympics feel like a massive global cultural event and sometimes they feel like tuesday,” Twitter, February 6, 2022, 3:51 p.m., https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/1490428001481203714.
How do I format a bibliography entry for a tweet in Chicago style (notes-bibiography)?

A tweet cited in a bibliography should include the following information: author name and username, text of the post up to 160 characters within quotation marks, name of the social media platform, date and time the tweet was posted, and the URL. Note that the text of the tweet should be written exactly as it was posted; changes should not be made to capitalization, spelling, or punctuation.

Template

Poster’s Last Name, First Name/Organization Name (@Username). “Text of the tweet up to 160 characters.” Twitter. Month Day, Year, time. URL.

Example

Chegg (@Chegg). “We are proud to have created and maintained a culture where employees feel seen and heard, especially through a year of evolving challenges. Thank you to our…” Twitter. December 13, 2021, 11:09 a.m. https://twitter.com/Chegg/status/1470425552548814852.