Skip to Main Content

APA Citation Style (7th edition)

Social Media -Twitter, Facebook, etc

Social Media (Sec.10.15 APA Publication Manual pp. 348-350)

  • Cite only original content from social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, Tumblr, LinkedIn, and so forth. If you used social media to discover content (e.g., you found a link to a blog post on Pinterest or Twitter) and you want to cite the content, cite it directly.

Use the template shown here to construct references for webpages or websites (section 10.15, APA Publication Manual, p.348)

Author Date Title

Source

Social media site name. URL

Twitter & Instagram:

Author, A. A. [@username].

or

Name of Group [@username].

 

(n.d.).

 

(2020, October 8).

 

 

Content of the post up
to the first 20 words [Description of audiovisuals].

 

Site name. https://xxxxxx

Site name. Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://xxxx

Facebook and others:

Author, A. A. 

or

Name of Group

or

Name of Group [@username].

Username

 

(n.d.).

 

(2020, August 16).

 

 

Content of the post up
to the first 20 words. [Description of audiovisuals].

 

Site name. https://xxxxxx

Site name. Retrieved March 22, 2021, from https://xxxx

____________________________________________________________________________________

Tweet (Sec.10.15 #103 APA Publication Manual p. 348)

Reference Example

Nexus Newspaper [@nexusnewspaper]. (2020, February 21). Finding a safe space in the trades: Three Camosun College students tell their story [Image attached] [Post]. X. https://twitter.com/nexusnewspaper/status/1230941354219450375?s=20

In-text
Example

(Nexus Newspaper, 2020)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Tweet with emojis (Sec.10.15 #103 APA Publication Manual pp. 348-349)

  • Replicate emojis if possible (see the introduction to Section 10.15 for more).
  • If you are not able to create the emoji, provide the emoji's name in square brackets, for example, "It doesn't get better than this [clapping hands] This actress deserves a [trophy]".
  • A full list of emoji names can be found at the Unicode Consortium's website (https://unicode.org/emoji/charts/emoji-list.html)
  • If the tweet includes images (including animated gifs), videos, thumbnail links to outside sources, links to other tweets (as in a retweet with comment), or a poll, indicate that in square brackets.
  • For tweet replies, do not include the “replying to” information; if that is important to note, do so within the in-text citation.

Reference Example

Cher [@cher]. (2020, April 26). https://libapps-ca.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/145933/images/chertweet.png[Tweet] Twitter. https://twitter.com/cher/status/1254462858009513985

In-text
Example

(Cher, 2020)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Facebook post (Sec.10.15 #105 APA Publication Manual p. 349)

Reference Example

Gaiman, N. [@neilgaiman]. (2020, January 22). I really hope they make their target. You change the world in the future by helping kids today... [Image attached] [Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/neilgaiman/posts/10156824910161016

In-text
Example

(Gaiman, 2020)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Facebook, video link and no date Facebook post (Sec.10.15 #105 APA Publication Manual p. 349)

Reference Example

World Wildlife Fund.(n.d.). Sir David Attenborough at the Our Planet premiere [Video]. Facebook. Retrieved April 23, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/15687409793/videos/2377202219010611/

In-text
Example

(World Wildlife Fund, n.d.)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Instagram (Sec. 10.15, Example 107, APA Publication Manual p. 350)

  • This format can be used for posts to other social media services, including Tumblr, LinkedIn, and so forth.
  • If a status update includes images, videos, thumbnail links to outside sources, or content from another Facebook post (such as when sharing a link), indicate that in square brackets.

Reference Example

Canadian Nurses Association [@canadanurses]. (2020, March 10). Happy International Certified Nurses Day cake [photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9kz6eFB2Lz/

In-text
Example

(Canadian Nurses Association, 2020)

____________________________________________________________________________________

 

This format can be used for posts to other social media services, including Tumblr, LinkedIn, and so forth. If a status update includes images, videos, thumbnail links to outside sources, or content from another Facebook post (such as when sharing a link), indicate that in square brackets.

Online Forums (Sec. 10.15, Example 109, APA Publication Manual p. 350)

Reference Example

Allen, G. (2020, April 18). I'm Gage Allen, and I make game trailers for a living! From Baldur's Gate 3 to Stellaris and more. Ask Me Anything! [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/g3ql5q/im_gage_allen_and_i_make_game_trailers_for_a/

In-text
Example

(Allen, 2020)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Use the template shown below to construct references for audiovisual media that are part of a greater whole

Author Date Title Publisher URL

Writer, W. W. (Writer), & Director, D. D. (Director).

Host, H. H. (Host).

Producer, P. P. (Producer).

Composer, C. C.

Artist, A. A.

 (2020).

 (2020, March 26).

 (n.d.).

Title of episode (Season No., Episode No.) [Description].

Title of song [Description].

 In P. P. Producer (Executive Producer),   Title of TV series. Production Company.

 In Title of podcast. Production   Company.

 On Title of album. Label.

https://xxxx