How to Cite a Social Media in APA 7th Edition
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
Creator [@username]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of post [Type of post]. Platform. URL
Citation Components
Creator/Account
Name of the person or organization who posted.
Username
Include official username in brackets with @ symbol: [@handle].
Post Date
Date posted in format (Year, Month Day).
Post Content
First 20 words of the post in sentence case. Use [...] if truncated.
Post Type
In brackets: [Tweet], [Instagram post], [Facebook status], [LinkedIn post], etc.
Platform
Name of social media platform: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
Real-World Example
Example Source
NASA
@NASA
2023, June 20
The James Webb Space Telescope captures unprecedented images of distant galaxies [...]
Tweet
https://twitter.com/NASA/status/123456
Formatted Citation
NASA [@NASA]. (2023, June 20). The James Webb Space Telescope captures unprecedented images of distant galaxies [...] [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/NASA/status/123456
In-Text Citation
(NASA, 2023)
(Creator, Year) or (Creator [@username], Year)
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
NASA. 'The James Webb Space Telescope captures...' Twitter. June 20, 2023.
Right:
NASA [@NASA]. (2023, June 20). The James Webb Space Telescope captures unprecedented images of distant galaxies [...] [Tweet]. Twitter. URL
Why: Include date in parentheses with (Year, Month Day), [@username] in brackets, post type designation, and complete URL to the post.
Wrong:
NASA (2023). Tweet about space telescope. Retrieved from twitter.com
Right:
NASA [@NASA]. (2023, June 20). The James Webb Space Telescope captures unprecedented images of distant galaxies [...] [Tweet]. Twitter. URL
Why: Include the specific date, first ~20 words of the actual post, post type in brackets, and direct link to the post.
Wrong:
@NASA (2023, June 20). 'Complete text of tweet.' Tweet. Twitter.
Right:
NASA [@NASA]. (2023, June 20). The James Webb Space Telescope captures unprecedented images [...] [Tweet]. Twitter. URL
Why: Don't use quotation marks or include complete post text. Include first 20 words with [...] for truncation. Provide direct URL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to include emojis in a social media citation? ▼
No, omit emojis from the citation text. Represent them with a description like [rocket emoji] only if they're essential to meaning.
What if I'm citing a retweet or share? ▼
Cite the original creator and post. Mention in your text that it was reposted/shared if necessary, but don't cite the sharing account.
How do I cite a social media post with no public date? ▼
Use (n.d.) for no date, but include the retrieval date in the URL when possible. It's preferable to cite dated posts when available.
Need to Generate a Citation?
Use our free APA 7th Edition citation generator tool to instantly format your citations.
Go to APA Citation Generator →Looking for other citation styles or source types?
View All Citation Guides →