Social media is now a legitimate academic source. A researcher might cite a public health official's tweet about vaccine distribution, an Instagram infographic from a nonprofit, or a Reddit thread that illustrates public sentiment on a policy issue. APA 7th edition has specific guidance for all of these — because social media didn't exist as a citable category when the 6th edition was published.
The rules are surprisingly consistent across platforms. Once you learn the general format, every platform is just a variation on the same structure.
General Format for Social Media References
Every social media citation follows this template:
Author. (Date). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Description of audiovisuals] [Type of post]. Platform Name. URL
Here's what each element means:
- Author: The account holder's real name (if known), with the username/handle in brackets.
- Date: The exact date the post was published — year, month, and day.
- Content: Use the first 20 words of the post as the title. Italicize it (because a standalone social media post is treated as a standalone work). Include the full text if it's 20 words or fewer.
- Audiovisual descriptions: If the post includes an image, video, or other media, describe it in brackets: [Image attached], [Video], [Thumbnail with link].
- Type of post: Specify the format in brackets: [Tweet], [Instagram post], [Facebook post], etc.
- Platform: The social media platform name.
- URL: A direct link to the post.
Twitter/X Post
Twitter (now X) is probably the most cited social media platform in academic work.
Post From an Individual
Reference list:
Gates, B. [@BillGates]. (2025, January 15). The progress we've made on malaria prevention is remarkable, but we still have a long way to go. New data from [Thumbnail with link attached] [Tweet]. X. https://x.com/BillGates/status/example123
In-text citations:
Parenthetical:(Gates, 2025)
Narrative:Gates (2025) noted that…
Key details:
- Use the person's real name as the author, with their handle in brackets after it.
- Include the first 20 words of the tweet as the title (italicized).
- If the tweet includes an image, video, or link preview, note it in brackets: [Image attached], [Video], [Thumbnail with link attached].
- Add [Tweet] as the post type.
- The platform is X (formerly Twitter).
Post From an Organization
World Health Organization [@WHO]. (2025, February 3). New guidelines on physical activity for children aged 5–17 recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily [Infographic] [Tweet]. X. https://x.com/WHO/status/example456
In-text: (World Health Organization, 2025)
Retweet or Quote Tweet
When citing a retweet, cite the original post — the one that was retweeted. Don't cite the person who retweeted it, unless the retweeter added substantive commentary (in which case cite the retweeter's post).
Instagram Post
Photo Post
National Geographic [@natgeo]. (2025, March 8). A mother polar bear and her cubs navigate the thinning sea ice of Hudson Bay. As Arctic ice continues [Photograph] [Instagram post]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/example789
In-text: (National Geographic, 2025)
Carousel Post
American Psychological Association [@americanpsychologicalassociation]. (2025, January 22). Five evidence-based study strategies that actually work — backed by cognitive science research. Swipe to learn about each [Infographic carousel] [Instagram post]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/example012
In-text: (American Psychological Association, 2025)
Instagram Story
Instagram Stories are ephemeral — they disappear after 24 hours. If you need to cite one, include a retrieval date:
Patel, R. [@drpatel_neuro]. (2025, February 10). Today's rounds: fascinating case of [Video] [Instagram story]. Instagram. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://www.instagram.com/stories/drpatel_neuro/example345
Since stories can't be revisited after 24 hours, consider whether a more permanent source would be a better citation. If you do cite a story, save a screenshot or screen recording for your own records.
Facebook Post
Post From an Individual
Obama, B. (2025, January 20). As we reflect on where we've been and where we're going, I'm reminded of the power of community to drive [Photograph] [Facebook post]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/barackobama/posts/example567
In-text: (Obama, 2025)
Post From a Page or Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, March 1). Flu season update: This week's surveillance data shows a continued decline in influenza activity across most regions [Infographic] [Facebook post]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/CDC/posts/example890
In-text (first use): (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025)
In-text (subsequent): (CDC, 2025)
Note: For organizational authors on Facebook, you typically won't need a username in brackets because the page name is the author name. Include a handle only if the page name differs significantly from the organization's official name.
Reddit Post or Comment
Reddit Post
u/neuroscience_nerd. (2025, February 14). Has anyone else noticed that the most cited papers in cognitive psychology are rarely replicated? I compiled a list of [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/AcademicPsychology/comments/example
In-text: (u/neuroscience_nerd, 2025)
Key detail: Most Reddit users are anonymous, so the username (with the u/ prefix) serves as the author. If you happen to know the poster's real name, use it with the username in brackets — but this is rare on Reddit.
Reddit Comment
u/data_scientist_42. (2025, February 14). The replication crisis isn't limited to psychology — look at the recent meta-analyses in cancer biology that found [Comment on the online forum post "Has anyone else noticed"]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/AcademicPsychology/comments/example/comment/example
In-text: (u/data_scientist_42, 2025)
For comments, note in brackets that it's a comment and identify which post it's on.
LinkedIn Post
Johnson, M. (2025, January 30). After 15 years in HR, here's what I've learned about remote work policies: the companies that thrive are the ones [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/example
In-text: (Johnson, 2025)
LinkedIn posts generally list the author's real name, so use it in standard APA format. LinkedIn doesn't have a widely used handle system, so you typically won't need brackets for a username.
TikTok Video
@scishow. (2025, March 5). Why does your voice sound different on recordings? It's not because the recording is wrong — it's because you hear [Video] [TikTok]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@scishow/video/example
In-text: (@scishow, 2025)
Key details:
- If you know the creator's real name, use it with the handle in brackets: Doe, J. [@scishow].
- If you only know the handle, use it as the author (with the @ symbol).
- Include [Video] for the audiovisual content and [TikTok] for the platform type.
Handling Usernames and Real Names
APA's approach to social media authors follows a clear priority:
Real name known: Use the real name as the author, with the username/handle in brackets.
Gates, B. [@BillGates]. (2025).
Only username known: Use the username as the author (including the platform's prefix symbol, like @ or u/).
@scishow. (2025).
u/neuroscience_nerd. (2025).
Group/organizational account: Use the organization's name, with the handle in brackets if different.
World Health Organization [@WHO]. (2025).
| Scenario | Author Format | In-Text |
|---|---|---|
| Real name + username | Gates, B. [@BillGates]. | (Gates, 2025) |
| Username only | @scishow. | (@scishow, 2025) |
| Organization + handle | World Health Organization [@WHO]. | (World Health Organization, 2025) |
| Organization = handle | National Geographic [@natgeo]. | (National Geographic, 2025) |
Emojis and Hashtags in Titles
Social media posts often contain emojis and hashtags. APA's guidance is practical:
- Emojis: Include them in the title if they're part of the original post. Copy the emoji directly into your reference: 🧠 New study reveals that sleep improves memory consolidation
- Hashtags: Include them as they appear in the post. They're part of the author's original text: Five tips for better sleep #SleepScience #WellnessWednesday
If the post is emoji-heavy or relies heavily on hashtags, use your judgment — include enough of the content for identification, but you don't need to reproduce every emoji or tag.
Retrieval Dates for Social Media
Most social media posts do not need a retrieval date because they have a specific publication date and the content is generally stable.
When you do need a retrieval date:
- Profiles and bios — these change frequently and have no fixed publication date
- Instagram Stories — ephemeral content that disappears after 24 hours
- Content you suspect may be deleted — save a screenshot for your records
Format:
Retrieved February 15, 2026, from https://www.instagram.com/example
Quick-Reference Table
| Platform | Author Format | Post Type Label | Example In-Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) | Name [@handle]. | [Tweet] | (Gates, 2025) |
| Name [@handle]. | [Instagram post] | (National Geographic, 2025) | |
| Name or Organization. | [Facebook post] | (Obama, 2025) | |
| u/username. | [Online forum post] | (u/neuroscience_nerd, 2025) | |
| Name. | [LinkedIn post] | (Johnson, 2025) | |
| TikTok | Name [@handle] or @handle. | [TikTok] | (@scishow, 2025) |
Common Mistakes
These are the social media citation errors we see most often:
Omitting the [Tweet] / [Instagram post] label. The bracketed description of the post type is required. Without it, the reader doesn't know what kind of source this is.
Using only the handle when the real name is available. If you can identify the person's actual name, use it as the author with the handle in brackets. Handles alone are a last resort.
Forgetting audiovisual descriptions. If the post includes an image, video, or infographic, describe it in brackets: [Image attached], [Video], [Infographic].
Including more than 20 words of the post as the title. Cap the title at 20 words. If the full post is 20 words or fewer, include all of it.
Adding a period after the URL. Same rule as always — no period after URLs.
Citing a deleted post without evidence. If a tweet or post has been deleted, you can still cite it — but note that it's no longer available, and keep a screenshot in your records.
What's Next
Now that you know how to cite social media, explore these related topics:
- How to Cite a Video in APA Format — citing YouTube videos, TED Talks, and films
- How to Cite a Website in APA Format — web pages, blog posts, and organizational sources
- APA Reference List — the complete guide to formatting your reference entries
Archivero can help you format social media citations correctly — including handling usernames, emojis, and post type labels — so you can focus on your research rather than hunting for formatting rules.
