Social media posts are short-form, user-generated content published on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, TikTok, and LinkedIn. In Harvard referencing, they follow the same author-date logic as any other source — but the "author" might be a username, a display name, or an organisation, and the "title" is often the content itself. Every social media reference must include enough detail for a reader to locate the original post.
General Format for Social Media References
Most Harvard guides use this structure for social media:
Author/Username (Year) Content of the post [Platform]. Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Key decisions you'll need to make for each post:
- Who is the author? — real name, username, or organisation
- What is the "title"? — the text of the post, truncated if long, or a description in square brackets
- Which platform? — identified in square brackets
- When was it posted? — specific day and month
- Where can it be found? — the direct URL to the post
Twitter / X Post
Twitter (now X) posts are the most commonly cited social media source in academic work. Use the poster's real name as the author, with the handle in square brackets.
Reference list:
Obama, B. [@BarackObama] (2024) 'Climate change is the challenge of our generation. We owe it to our kids to act now' [Twitter/X]. 22 April. Available at: https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/example123 (Accessed: 10 January 2025).
In-text citations:
Parenthetical:(Obama, 2024)
Narrative:Obama (2024) argues that climate action is a generational responsibility…
When Only a Handle Is Available
If the poster uses only a username and no real name is identifiable:
@ScienceDaily (2024) 'New study reveals link between gut bacteria and mental health outcomes' [Twitter/X]. 15 March. Available at: https://twitter.com/ScienceDaily/status/example456 (Accessed: 20 March 2025).
(@ScienceDaily, 2024)
Thread (Multiple Posts)
If you're referencing a thread, cite the first post and note it's a thread:
Haider, S. [@DrSHaider] (2024) 'A thread on the latest WHO guidelines for antibiotic resistance…' [Twitter/X thread]. 8 June. Available at: https://twitter.com/DrSHaider/status/example789 (Accessed: 15 June 2025).
(Haider, 2024)
Instagram Post
Instagram posts frequently centre on an image or video with an optional caption. If the post has text, use the first ~20 words as the title. If it's primarily visual, provide a description in square brackets.
Post With a Caption
Reference list:
Attenborough, D. [@davidattenborough] (2024) 'The natural world is full of extraordinary animals. But none more so than…' [Instagram]. 5 February. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/example123 (Accessed: 12 February 2025).
In-text:
(Attenborough, 2024)
Post Without Text (Image or Video Only)
National Geographic [@natgeo] (2024) [Photograph of a polar bear on melting sea ice] [Instagram]. 20 March. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/example456 (Accessed: 25 March 2025).
(National Geographic, 2024)
Instagram Story or Reel
Stories and reels are ephemeral — stories disappear after 24 hours, and reels may be removed. Always note the format:
Torres, M. [@mariatorres] (2024) [Video discussing exam revision strategies] [Instagram Reel]. 10 May. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/reel/example789 (Accessed: 11 May 2025).
(Torres, 2024)
Because stories disappear, consider saving a screenshot as evidence. Some lecturers may not accept stories as sources.
Facebook Post
Facebook posts from public pages and profiles follow the same pattern. Private or group posts may not be accessible to your reader — cite them with caution.
Reference list:
World Health Organization (2024) 'Today marks World Mental Health Day. This year's theme focuses on mental health in the workplace…' [Facebook]. 10 October. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/WHO/posts/example123 (Accessed: 15 October 2025).
In-text:
(World Health Organization, 2024)
Personal Profile Post
If you have permission to cite a post from a personal profile:
Patel, R. (2024) 'Just finished my PhD viva — four years of work condensed into a two-hour conversation…' [Facebook]. 3 December. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/rpatel/posts/example456 (Accessed: 10 December 2025).
(Patel, 2024)
Note:Public posts from official pages are generally acceptable in academic work. Posts from private profiles or closed groups raise ethical and accessibility concerns — your reader may not be able to verify them. Check with your lecturer.
Reddit Post or Comment
Reddit posts use usernames as the author (real names are rarely available). Include the subreddit name to help readers locate the discussion.
Post
Reference list:
u/QuantumPhysics101 (2024) 'Can someone explain quantum entanglement in simple terms?', r/askscience [Reddit]. 14 April. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/example123 (Accessed: 20 April 2025).
In-text:
(u/QuantumPhysics101, 2024)
Comment
If you're citing a specific comment rather than the original post:
u/BioResearcher22 (2024) 'The key distinction is between correlation and causation…', reply to 'Does coffee really cause cancer?', r/science [Reddit comment]. 7 May. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/example456/comment/abc789 (Accessed: 12 May 2025).
(u/BioResearcher22, 2024)
Academic caution:Reddit is an anonymous platform. Unless the poster is a verified expert or the subreddit has strict moderation (e.g., r/askscience, r/AskHistorians), treat Reddit content as informal and verify claims through peer-reviewed sources.
TikTok Video
TikTok videos are short-form and often lack substantial text. Provide a description of the video content in square brackets if there is no meaningful caption.
Reference list:
@DrJulie (2024) [Video explaining the difference between bacterial and viral infections] [TikTok]. 22 August. Available at: https://www.tiktok.com/@DrJulie/video/example123 (Accessed: 1 September 2025).
In-text:
(@DrJulie, 2024)
TikTok With a Text Caption
@StudyWithMe (2024) 'Three citation mistakes that will cost you marks' [TikTok]. 5 November. Available at: https://www.tiktok.com/@StudyWithMe/video/example456 (Accessed: 10 November 2025).
(@StudyWithMe, 2024)
LinkedIn Post
LinkedIn posts are typically professional or industry-focused. Use the poster's real name as the author.
Reference list:
Chen, L. (2024) 'The future of remote work isn't about location flexibility — it's about asynchronous communication…' [LinkedIn]. 18 September. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lchen_example123 (Accessed: 25 September 2025).
In-text:
(Chen, 2024)
For LinkedIn articles (longer-form posts published on LinkedIn's article platform):
Fernandez, A. (2024) 'Why psychological safety matters more than perks', LinkedIn [Online article]. 2 July. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-psychological-safety-matters-example (Accessed: 10 July 2025).
(Fernandez, 2024)
Handling Usernames, Display Names, and Real Names
Social media complicates authorship because users rarely present their names in the "Surname, Initials" format that Harvard requires. Here's how to handle each scenario:
| Scenario | What to Do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Real name is known | Use the real name; add the handle in square brackets | Obama, B. [@BarackObama] (2024) |
| Only a username/handle | Use the username as the author | @ScienceDaily (2024) |
| Display name ≠ real name | Use the real name if verifiable; handle in brackets | Adichie, C.N. [@chimikitta] (2024) |
| Organisation | Use the organisation name | World Health Organization (2024) |
| Anonymous/pseudonymous | Use the username — do not try to identify the person | u/QuantumPhysics101 (2024) |
If a real name is available on the user's profile or a linked website, prioritise it over the username.
Emojis and Hashtags in Reference Entries
Social media posts frequently include emojis, hashtags, and non-standard punctuation. Include them in the quoted content if they are integral to the meaning:
@SciComm (2024) 'New study links screen time to sleep disruption in teens 📱💤 #ScienceMatters' [Twitter/X]. 12 March. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date).
If emojis are decorative and don't affect meaning, you can omit them. Hashtags that function as part of the message (e.g., #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter) should always be included.
Common Mistakes With Social Media Citations
| Mistake | Why It's Wrong | Correct Approach |
|---|---|---|
| No access date | Social media is ephemeral — posts can be edited or deleted | Always include (Accessed: Day Month Year) |
| Missing platform identifier | The reader needs to know where to find the post | Add [Twitter/X], [Instagram], etc. in square brackets |
| Using a handle when the real name is available | Harvard prefers real names | Use Surname, Initial(s) with the handle in square brackets |
| Citing a deleted post without evidence | The reader cannot verify the source | Save a screenshot or use an archive service |
| No URL | The reader can't locate the post | Always include the direct link to the specific post |
| Citing private or restricted content | Your reader may not be able to access it | Only cite publicly accessible posts |
Summary: Social Media Reference Formats at a Glance
| Platform | Reference List Format |
|---|---|
| Twitter/X | Author [@handle] (Year) 'Content' [Twitter/X]. Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date). |
| Author [@handle] (Year) 'Content' or [Description] [Instagram]. Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date). | |
| Author/Organisation (Year) 'Content' [Facebook]. Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date). | |
| u/Username (Year) 'Post title', r/subreddit [Reddit]. Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date). | |
| TikTok | @Username (Year) 'Content' or [Description] [TikTok]. Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date). |
| Author (Year) 'Content' [LinkedIn]. Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date). |
What's Next?
Now that you know how to reference social media, explore these related guides:
- How to Reference a Video in Harvard Style — formats for YouTube, films, TED Talks, and podcasts
- How to Reference a Website in Harvard Style — rules for web pages, blogs, and online articles
- Harvard Reference List — the complete guide to formatting your reference list
