How to Cite a Social Media in Chicago Manual of Style (Notes-Bibliography)
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
Creator. "First 20 words of post [...]" Platform, @username, Month Day, Year. URL.
Citation Components
Creator/Account
Full name or organization name.
Post Content
First 20 words in quotation marks. Use [...] if truncated.
Platform
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.
Username
Format: @handle.
Post Date
Month Day, Year format.
URL
Direct link to post.
Real-World Example
Example Source
NASA
The James Webb Space Telescope reveals the oldest galaxies ever observed [...]
@NASA
July 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1234567890
Formatted Citation
1. NASA, "The James Webb Space Telescope Reveals the Oldest Galaxies Ever Observed [...]," Twitter, @NASA, July 12, 2023, https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1234567890.
In-Text Citation
1
Superscript numeral
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
NASA [@NASA]. 'The James Webb Space Telescope.' Twitter. 7/12/23.
Right:
1. NASA, "The James Webb Space Telescope Reveals the Oldest Galaxies Ever Observed [...]," Twitter, @NASA, July 12, 2023, https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1234567890.
Why: Use double quotation marks. Include first 20 words of actual post. Use written date format. Include full URL.
Wrong:
1. @NASA. Space Telescope Post. 2023.
Right:
1. NASA, "The James Webb Space Telescope Reveals the Oldest Galaxies Ever Observed [...]," Twitter, @NASA, July 12, 2023, https://twitter.com/NASA/status/...
Why: Start with account name (not @handle). Include actual post text in quotation marks. Include complete date and URL.
Wrong:
1. Twitter. NASA posted about space. July 2023.
Right:
1. NASA, "The James Webb Space Telescope Reveals the Oldest Galaxies Ever Observed [...]," Twitter, @NASA, July 12, 2023, https://twitter.com/NASA/status/...
Why: Start with creator name. Include actual post content. Include month and day. Include platform, username, and URL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always need the @username in a social media citation? ▼
Yes, it helps readers verify the source and shows which account posted.
What if the social media post has no date? ▼
Use the date you accessed it: accessed Month Day, Year.
Can I omit emojis from the citation? ▼
Yes, omit emojis from the text. Include them only if essential to understanding the post.
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