Social Media Posts

Social media posts can be cited in APA Style to reference information shared on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and others. The format varies slightly depending on the platform, but the core elements are generally consistent.

General Format:
Author, A. A. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). Content of the post [Description of media]. Site Name. URL
Key Elements:
  • Author: The name of the person or organization that created the post.
  • Username: The social media username of the author. Enclose this in square brackets.
  • Date: The date the post was published (year, month, and day).
  • Content of the Post: The text of the social media post.
  • Description of Media: Describe the type of media included in the post (e.g., [Tweet], [Facebook status update], [Instagram photo], [Video attached]).
  • Site Name: The name of the social media platform (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
  • URL: The URL of the specific post.

1. Twitter (X) Posts

  • Author: The real name of the author. If only the username is available, use that.
  • Username: The Twitter/X username, enclosed in square brackets (e.g., [@AP_Stylebook]).
  • Date: The exact date the Tweet was posted (year, month, and day).
  • Content of the Post: The complete text of the Tweet. Do not edit the text, even if there are typos or grammatical errors.
  • Description of Media: Use "[Tweet]" to describe the post.
  • Site Name: "X"
  • URL: The URL of the specific Tweet. To find this, click on the date/time of the Tweet.
Example:
AP Stylebook [@APStylebook]. (2020, February 26). Use lowercase, with periods, for a.m. and p.m. (never AM or PM). Omit the periods if using in all-caps: AM, PM [Tweet]. X. https://twitter.com/APStylebook/status/1232622424979435521

Important Notes:

  • Accuracy: Copy the text of the post exactly as it appears, including any typos or abbreviations.
  • Complete URLs: Provide the full and direct URL to the specific post.
  • Media Description: Be specific in describing the media included in the post (e.g., "[Tweet]", "[Facebook video]", "[Instagram photo]", "[LinkedIn post]").
  • Username: Include the username in square brackets after the author's name to help readers locate the post.
  • Emoji: You can include emojis from the post in your citation.
  • Retrieved from: Do not include "Retrieved from" before the URL.
  • Archived Posts: If you are citing an archived version of a social media post (e.g., from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine), include the retrieval date and the URL of the archived version.
  • Private Accounts: Do not cite posts from private social media accounts, as they are not publicly accessible.
  • Edited Posts: If a post has been edited, cite the most recent version. There is no need to note that it has been edited.