How do I cite a social media post in ACS?

To cite a social media post in ACS (current), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a social media post in ACS?

In ACS, the in-text citation for the example above is 1

How to Cite a Social Media Post in ACS (current)

Learn how to cite tweets, Instagram posts, Facebook posts, and TikToks in ACS format (current). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

ACS Reference List Format

Here is the standard ACS format for citing a social media post in your reference list:

ACS Example for a Social Media Post

A complete ACS reference for a social media post, formatted by the official ACS CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

(1) University Library. Our new open-access policy takes effect today. Instagram. https://www.example.org/post/12345

Matching in-text citation: 1

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your social media post.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the ACS (current) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match ACS requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: acs.csl

Metadata to collect

account name and handle
post text or description
exact date
platform
permalink

Common metadata traps

Cite the specific post rather than the profile page.
Preserve enough post text to identify content that may later be edited or removed.

Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a social media post in ACS?: To cite a social media post in ACS (current), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the ACS format for a social media post citation?: The ACS format for a social media post is: (1) University Library. Our new open-access policy takes effect today. Instagram. https://www.example.org/post/12345
What does the in-text citation look like for a social media post in ACS?: In ACS, the in-text citation for the example above is 1