How to Cite a Social Media in Vancouver Style
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
[#] Creator [@username]. Post text [First 20 words] [Post type]. Platform [Internet]; Year Month Day [cited Year Month Day]. Available from: URL
Citation Components
Reference Number
Numbered [1], [2], etc.
Creator/Account
Full name or organization [@username].
Post Text
First 20 words. Sentence case. [Post type] designation.
Platform
Twitter, Instagram, etc. [Internet] designation.
Date/Access
Year Month Day [cited Year Month Day]. Available from: URL
Real-World Example
Example Source
1
World Health Organization [@WHO]
Climate change poses unprecedented threats to global health [...]
Tweet
2023 Jun 20
2023 Jun 21
https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1234567890
Formatted Citation
[1] World Health Organization [@WHO]. Climate change poses unprecedented threats to global health [...] [Tweet]. Twitter [Internet]; 2023 Jun 20 [cited 2023 Jun 21]. Available from: https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1234567890
In-Text Citation
[1]
[1], [2]
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
[1] WHO [@WHO]. (2023, Jun 20). 'Climate change and health.' Tweet on Twitter. Accessed June 21, 2023.
Right:
[1] World Health Organization [@WHO]. Climate change poses unprecedented threats to global health [...] [Tweet]. Twitter [Internet]; 2023 Jun 20 [cited 2023 Jun 21]. Available from: URL
Why: Use full organization name, first 20 words of actual post, [Post type] designation, [Internet], and [cited Year Mon Day] format.
Wrong:
[1]. WHO post about climate. Twitter. June 2023.
Right:
[1] World Health Organization [@WHO]. Climate change poses unprecedented threats to global health [...] [Tweet]. Twitter [Internet]; 2023 Jun 20 [cited 2023 Jun 21]. Available from: URL
Why: Include full creator name with @username, actual post text, post type, full date, and access date with URL.
Wrong:
[1] @WHO. Climate change tweet. Twitter. 6/20/23. 6/21/23.
Right:
[1] World Health Organization [@WHO]. Climate change poses unprecedented threats to global health [...] [Tweet]. Twitter [Internet]; 2023 Jun 20 [cited 2023 Jun 21]. Available from: URL
Why: Use full organization name (not just @handle), Year Mon Day format (not numerical), and proper citation structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both post date and access date? ▼
Yes: post date (Year Mon Day) and access date [cited Year Mon Day].
What if the post is very long? ▼
Use first 20 words or first complete sentence, then [...] to indicate truncation.
Can I cite retweets or reshares? ▼
Cite the original post and creator, not the account that reposted it.
Need to Generate a Citation?
Use our free Vancouver Style citation generator tool to instantly format your citations.
Go to Vancouver Citation Generator →Looking for other citation styles or source types?
View All Citation Guides →