How to Cite a Social Media in MLA 9th Edition
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
Creator. "First 20 words of post [...]" Uploaded by @username, Day Month Year, Platform, URL.
Citation Components
Creator/Account
Full name or organization name of the account.
Post Content
First 20 words in quotation marks. Use [...] for truncation.
Username
Format: '@handle' in the upload clause.
Post Date
Day Month Year format.
Platform
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.
URL
Direct link to the specific post.
Real-World Example
Example Source
NASA
The James Webb Space Telescope captures unprecedented images of distant galaxies [...]
@NASA
20 June 2023
https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1234567890
Formatted Citation
NASA. "The James Webb Space Telescope Captures Unprecedented Images of Distant Galaxies [...]" Uploaded by @NASA, 20 June 2023, Twitter, twitter.com/NASA/status/1234567890.
In-Text Citation
(NASA)
(Creator) or (@username)
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
@NASA (2023, June 20). 'The James Webb Space Telescope captures...' Tweet. Twitter.
Right:
NASA. "The James Webb Space Telescope Captures Unprecedented Images of Distant Galaxies [...]" Uploaded by @NASA, 20 June 2023, Twitter, twitter.com/NASA/status/1234567890.
Why: Start with account name (not @handle). Use quotation marks. Include 'Uploaded by @handle', date, and full URL.
Wrong:
NASA. Space Telescope Post. Twitter. June 2023.
Right:
NASA. "The James Webb Space Telescope Captures Unprecedented Images of Distant Galaxies [...]" Uploaded by @NASA, 20 June 2023, Twitter, twitter.com/NASA/status/...
Why: Must include first ~20 words of actual post in quotation marks, username, complete date, and direct post URL.
Wrong:
NASA [@NASA]. Tweet about space. 2023.
Right:
NASA. "The James Webb Space Telescope Captures Unprecedented Images of Distant Galaxies [...]" Uploaded by @NASA, 20 June 2023, Twitter, twitter.com/NASA/status/...
Why: Use quotation marks around post content (not brackets). Include Day Month Year format and full URL to post.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I include emojis in a social media citation? ▼
No, omit emojis. Only include them if essential to understanding the post's meaning.
What if the social media post doesn't have a date? ▼
Use the date you accessed it, or cite with the access date included.
Can I cite a retweet or share in MLA? ▼
Cite the original creator and post. In your paper, clarify that it was reposted if relevant to your argument.
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