How to Cite Social Media in APA (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)

Social media posts from organizations, researchers, and public figures increasingly serve as valuable sources in academic research. APA 7th edition provides guidance for citing various social media platforms. This comprehensive guide covers Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other social platforms.

Basic Social Media Citation Format

The standard APA 7th edition format for citing a social media post includes:

Author Name. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of post [Post type]. Platform.
Retrieved from URL

Example:

Anderson, R. J. (2023, March 15). Artificial intelligence is revolutitionizing healthcare
by improving diagnostics and treatment planning. [Status update]. Twitter.
Retrieved from https://twitter.com/andrsontech/status/123456789

Step-by-Step Social Media Citation Instructions

Step 1: Identify the Account Owner/Author

Use the account owner’s name as it appears on the profile. This could be an individual, organization, or official account.

Individual Account:

Thompson, L. K.

Organization Account:

American Psychological Association

Official Account:

The White House
NASA

Step 2: Include the Date

Include the date the post was published (Year, Month Day).

Example:

(2023, March 15)

If the specific date is unclear, use just the month and year or year only.

Step 3: Write the Post Content

Include the first 20 words of the post as the title. If the post is shorter than 20 words, include the entire post.

Example: “Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare by improving diagnostics and treatment planning”

For untitled posts or images: If there is no text or the post is primarily visual, describe the content briefly in brackets.

Step 4: Specify the Post Type

Include the post type in brackets to clarify what kind of content was posted.

Examples:

[Status update]
[Image]
[Video post]
[Photograph]
[Infographic]
[Poll]

Step 5: Name the Platform

Include the social media platform name.

Examples:

Twitter (now X)
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
LinkedIn
YouTube

Step 6: Use “Retrieved from”

Include “Retrieved from” followed by the post URL.

Format:

Retrieved from https://platform.com/post-url

Complete Citation Examples

Twitter Post

NASA. (2023, March 15). New images from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal unprecedented
details of distant galaxies. [Status update]. Twitter. Retrieved from
https://twitter.com/nasa/status/1234567890

Instagram Post

National Geographic. (2023, March 18). Wildlife conservation efforts in Africa making a
difference for endangered species and ecosystems. [Photograph]. Instagram. Retrieved from
https://www.instagram.com/p/abc123def456

Facebook Post

American Red Cross. (2023, March 20). Donate blood and help save lives. [Status update].
Facebook. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/americanredcross/posts/123456789

TikTok Video

Kurzgesagt. (2023, March 22). How quantum computers work explained in simple terms [Video].
TikTok. Retrieved from https://www.tiktok.com/@kurzgesagt/video/123456789

LinkedIn Post

Bill Gates. (2023, March 16). Global health innovation requires collaborative effort and
investment. [Status update]. LinkedIn. Retrieved from
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:1234567890

Instagram Reel

TED. (2023, March 19). Ideas worth spreading through innovative thinking and creative
solutions. [Video]. Instagram. Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/reel/abc123def456

Twitter Thread (First Tweet)

Anderson, R. J. (2023, March 15). Thread: The future of artificial intelligence. [Status
update]. Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/andrtech/status/1234567890

In-Text Citation Examples

When citing social media posts in your paper, use the account owner’s last name and year.

Paraphrase:

According to recent information shared by NASA, the James Webb Space Telescope is providing
unprecedented views of distant galaxies (NASA, 2023).

Direct Quote:

"New images from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal unprecedented details of distant galaxies"
(NASA, 2023).

By Individual:

A prominent technology expert noted that artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare
(Anderson, 2023).

Special Social Media Citation Scenarios

Sponsored Post or Advertisement

Apple. (2023, March 17). The new iPhone 15 Pro features cutting-edge technology and
exceptional camera capabilities. [Sponsored post]. Instagram. Retrieved from
https://www.instagram.com/apple/posts/abc123def456

Retweet or Shared Post

Cite the original post author, not the account that retweeted/shared it:

Thompson, L. K. (2023, March 14). Climate change research breakthrough announced by
international scientific team. [Status update]. Twitter. Retrieved from
https://twitter.com/climatetom/status/1234567890

Post with Image or Media

National Geographic. (2023, March 18). Stunning photograph of northern lights in Iceland
during rare geomagnetic storm. [Photograph]. Instagram. Retrieved from
https://www.instagram.com/p/abc123def456

Deleted or Updated Post

For archived versions:

Anderson, R. J. (2023, March 15). Important announcement about technology conference.
[Status update]. Twitter. Retrieved from
https://web.archive.org/web/20230315000000*/twitter.com/andrtech/status/

Post from Verified Account

If using a verified account, no special notation is needed; just cite normally.

Hashtag-Based Content

Climate Action Now. (2023, March 20). #ClimatAction initiatives gaining momentum globally
with increased public awareness. [Status update]. Twitter. Retrieved from
https://twitter.com/climateactionnow/status/1234567890

Different Social Media Platforms

Twitter/X Post

WHO. (2023, March 16). Global health initiative launches new pandemic preparedness
protocol. [Status update]. Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/WHO/status/123456789

Instagram Story (Archived)

For archived stories that are no longer visible:

Anderson, R. J. (2023, March 15). [Story about technology trends]. [Story]. Instagram.
Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/stories/andrtech/

Facebook Comment on Page Post

If citing a specific comment:

Thompson, L. K. (2023, March 15). This is important information for our community.
[Comment on status update]. Facebook. Retrieved from
https://www.facebook.com/page/posts/123456789?comment_id=987654321

TikTok Trending Sound Post

Dance Community. (2023, March 18). Creative choreography to trending sound. [Video]. TikTok.
Retrieved from https://www.tiktok.com/@dancecommunity/video/123456789

LinkedIn Article

Gates, B. (2023, March 14). The future of global health and development. *LinkedIn Articles*.
Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/future-global-health-bill-gates

YouTube Community Post

MrBeast. (2023, March 15). Check out my latest video on environmental conservation efforts.
[Community post]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast/community

Common Social Media Citation Errors

• Missing the post URL - Always include a direct link to the post
• Not including the platform name - Specify Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.
• Using incomplete post text - Include at least the first 20 words or the complete short post
• Forgetting the post type designation - Always specify [Status update], [Video], [Image], etc.
• Incorrect date format - Use (Year, Month Day) consistently
• Missing account owner name - Always identify who posted the content
• Not using “Retrieved from” - Include for social media sources
• Broken or incomplete URLs - Verify the link is complete and functional
• Treating social media as a major source - Use social media posts carefully and verify with reliable sources
• Improper alphabetization - Alphabetize by account owner’s last name

Evaluating Social Media as a Source

When Social Media is Appropriate:

• Official statements from governments, organizations, or institutions
• Expert commentary shared by recognized researchers or professionals
• Quotes or statements from notable public figures
• Primary source material (someone’s direct statement or observation)
• Time-sensitive information from reliable organizations

When Social Media is Not Appropriate:

• Unverified rumors or hearsay
• Posts without clear authorship or credibility
• Misinformation or disproven claims
• Random opinions without supporting evidence
• Heavily edited or manipulated content

Using GenText to Generate Social Media Citations

Creating properly formatted social media citations requires managing account names, post dates, platform information, post content, and URLs. GenText’s citation generator simplifies this process. Input the account owner, post date, first 20 words of the post, platform, and URL, and GenText generates a complete, accurately formatted citation.

Visit /tools/citation-generator/apa/ to generate social media citations in seconds.

Verification Checklist

Before including a social media citation in your reference list, verify:

• ✓ Account owner/author name is correctly identified
• ✓ Post date is complete (Year, Month Day)
• ✓ First 20 words of post are included accurately
• ✓ Post type is specified in brackets [Status update], [Video], etc.
• ✓ Platform name is included
• ✓ “Retrieved from” is used before the URL
• ✓ URL is complete and functional
• ✓ Entry is alphabetically ordered in reference list
• ✓ Hanging indent is properly applied
• ✓ Source credibility has been evaluated

Related Guides

• Complete APA 7th Edition Citation Guide
• How to Cite a Website in APA 7th Edition
• How to Cite a Source with No Author in APA
• How to Cite an Online Article in APA 7th Edition

Social media has become a significant source of information, quotes, and primary material. By properly citing social media posts using APA 7th edition guidelines, you acknowledge their role in contemporary discourse while maintaining academic integrity and credibility.