How do I cite a TikTok video in Harvard?

To cite a TikTok video in Harvard (Cite Them Right), 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 TikTok video in Harvard?

In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Cook, 2021)

How to Cite a TikTok Video in Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Learn how to cite TikTok videos and creator posts in Harvard format (Cite Them Right). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Harvard Reference List Format

Here is the standard Harvard format for citing a TikTok video in your reference list:

Creator, A. (Year) ‘Caption of the video’ [TikTok] Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Harvard Example for a TikTok Video

A complete Harvard reference for a TikTok video, written by hand and checked against the official Harvard guidance for this source:

Cook, P. (2021) ‘Fighting fire with fire. #sciencetok #learnontiktok’ [TikTok] 17 September. Available at: https://www.tiktok.com/@chemteacherphil/video/7008953610872605957 (Accessed: 18 October 2026).

Matching in-text citation: (Cook, 2021)

Harvard In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Cook, 2021)

Narrative

Cook (2021) shows…

Key Harvard Formatting Rules

Use the creator’s or organization’s name as author, followed by the year of posting in round brackets.
Give the caption in single quotation marks, then [TikTok] in square brackets and the day and month of posting.
End with Available at: and the video’s URL, and the date you viewed it in (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Cite the video itself, not the creator’s profile page.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your TikTok video.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Harvard (Cite Them Right) 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 Harvard requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

creator's name and @handle
caption text, including hashtags
posting date
video permalink
date you viewed it

Common metadata traps

Copying the profile URL or a vm.tiktok.com share link gives the reader the wrong page; use the full tiktok.com/@handle/video/ number of the video itself.
The song or sound credited at the bottom of a TikTok is not its author; the author is the account that posted the video.
Rewriting the caption in title case or dropping its hashtags changes the title; keep the caption exactly as the creator wrote it.

Editorial sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a TikTok video in Harvard?: To cite a TikTok video in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Harvard format for a TikTok video citation?: The Harvard format for a TikTok video is: Creator, A. (Year) ‘Caption of the video’ [TikTok] Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
What does the in-text citation look like for a TikTok video in Harvard?: In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Cook, 2021)