How to Cite a Social Media Post in ASA (7th edition)
Learn how to cite tweets, Instagram posts, Facebook posts, and TikToks in ASA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
ASA Reference List Format
Here is the standard ASA format for citing a social media post in your reference list:
ASA Example for a Social Media Post
A complete ASA reference for a social media post, formatted by the official ASA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
University Library. 2024. “Our New Open-Access Policy Takes Effect Today.” https://www.example.org/post/12345.
Matching in-text citation: (University Library 2024)
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 ASA (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 ASA 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: asa.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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a social media post in ASA?
- To cite a social media post in ASA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the ASA format for a social media post citation?
- The ASA format for a social media post is: University Library. 2024. “Our New Open-Access Policy Takes Effect Today.” https://www.example.org/post/12345.
- What does the in-text citation look like for a social media post in ASA?
- In ASA, the in-text citation for the example above is (University Library 2024)
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