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APA Style: Using Source Material: Citing Social Media

An introduction to APA style for academic papers, based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition.

Citing Social Media

When citing original content from social media sites, use the content of a post up to the first 20 words for the title; if there are images, videos, or thumbnails with links, their presence should be noted in brackets. Do not change spellings and capitalization from social media sources; replicate emojis (when possible) or provide the name of the emoji in brackets. 

Types of Social Media

 

X PostThis format is also used for Instagram and TikTok. Use the author’s name, not the handle, in parenthetical citations. 

Author [@X handle]. (date). Up to the first 20 words of the post [Description of images, videos, polls, thumbnails with links] [Post]. X. url. 

Yellowstone National Park [@Yellowstone NPS]. (2024, June 28). At this time, Yellowstone can confirm that a white bison calf was born in Lamar Valley on June 24, 2024 [Image                     attached] [Post]. X. Yellowstone National Park (@YellowstoneNPS) / X 

 

Facebook PostFor the author, use the name on the account. For the title, use the first 20 words of the post. If there are images, videos, or thumbnails with links, mention them in brackets. Use brackets also to describe the type of post. 

Author. (Date). Up to the first 20 words of the post [Description of audiovisuals] [Type of post]. Facebook. url. 

US Forest Service. (2020, November 10). Mullen fire information [Image attached] [Status update]. Facebook. https://Facebook.com/MullenFire/ 

 

Online Forum PostIf the author’s real name is known, provide it first, followed by the screen name in brackets. If the author’s real name is unknown, use only the screen name but omit the brackets. 

Author [screen name]. (Date). Up to the first 20 words of the post [Online forum post]. Name of Site. url 

Leecannon. (2024). I said it before but I’ll say it again; no one should be moving to Wyoming [Online forum post]. Reddit.                                                                                                                https://www.reddit.com/r/victoria3/comments/1d32q9u/i_said_it_before_but_ill_say_it_again_no_one/ 

 

Online Forum CommentUse the author’s name as it appears on the comment. Follow with the screen name, if any, in brackets. 

Author [screen name]. (Date). Up to the first 20 words of the comment [Comment on the online forum post Title of post]. Name of site. url 

Xyzzyzzyzzy. (2024). It was harsh enough that 19th century migrants would rather endure months of travel through the sparsely populated Great Plains [Comment on the online forum              post I said it before but I’ll say it again; no one should be moving to Wyoming]. Reddit.                                                                                                                                                             https://www.reddit.com/r/victoria3/comments/1d32q9u/i_said_it_before_but_ill_say_it_again_no_one/