How to Cite a Social Media Post in APA (7th edition)
Learn how to cite tweets, Instagram posts, Facebook posts, and TikToks in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
APA Reference List Format
Here is the standard APA format for citing a social media post in your reference list:
Author, A. A. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). Content of post up to 20 words [Type of post]. Platform. https://url
APA Example for a Social Media Post
A complete APA reference for a social media post, formatted by the official APA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
University Library. (2024, October 4). Our new open-access policy takes effect today. Instagram. https://www.example.org/post/12345
Matching in-text citation: (University Library, 2024)
APA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(@username, 2024)
Narrative
@username (2024) posted...
Key APA Formatting Rules
- Give the author's name followed by the [@username] in square brackets.
- Use the full date of the post as (Year, Month Day).
- Reproduce the first 20 words of the post as the title; keep emojis and hashtags.
- Add a bracketed descriptor such as [Tweet], [Photograph] or [Status update].
- Name the platform, then the URL of the post.
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 APA (7th edition) 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 APA 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: apa.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.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a social media post in APA?
- To cite a social media post in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the APA format for a social media post citation?
- The APA format for a social media post is: Author, A. A. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). Content of post up to 20 words [Type of post]. Platform. https://url
- What does the in-text citation look like for a social media post in APA?
- In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (@username, 2024)
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