How to Cite Social Media in Chicago Style
Social media platforms are increasingly important sources for research in contemporary history, communication studies, political science, and cultural analysis. Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) provides formats for citing posts from Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, and other platforms in both Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems.
Understanding Social Media Citations
Social media citations must balance specificity with practicality. Include the author's name or username, the text of the post (or a description), the platform, the date and time, and the URL. Because social media content can be deleted or made private, Chicago recommends including timestamps and considering screenshots for important sources. The Notes-Bibliography system is standard in humanities research, while Author-Date is preferred in social sciences studying digital communication.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Twitter/X Posts
Basic Format for Twitter/X
Footnote/Endnote:
Author Name (@username), "Text of tweet" or description, Twitter/X, Month Day, Year, Time, URL.
Bibliography entry:
Social media posts are typically cited only in notes, not in bibliography. However, for frequently cited accounts, you may list the account in bibliography.
Example: Tweet with Full Text
Note:
1. Barack Obama (@BarackObama), "Climate change is real, and we can fix it. Happy Earth Day, everyone," Twitter, April 22, 2024, 10:42 a.m., https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1234567890.
Example: Tweet with Description
Note:
2. National Archives (@USNatArchives), announcing the digitization of Civil War records, Twitter, January 15, 2024, 2:30 p.m., https://twitter.com/USNatArchives/status/9876543210.
Note: For long tweets or threads, you may summarize rather than quote in full.
Example: Retweet with Commentary
Note:
3. Jill Lepore (@JillLepore), "This is essential reading for anyone interested in American political history," retweeting @HistorianName, Twitter, March 10, 2024, 9:15 a.m., https://twitter.com/JillLepore/status/1122334455.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Facebook Posts
Basic Format for Facebook
Footnote/Endnote:
Author Name, "Text of post" or description, Facebook, Month Day, Year, URL.
Example: Facebook Post from Public Figure
Note:
4. Michelle Obama, announcing the Reach Higher initiative, Facebook, May 1, 2024, https://www.facebook.com/michelleobama/posts/123456789.
Example: Facebook Page or Organization Post
Note:
5. Library of Congress, "On this day in 1865: Lincoln's assassination," Facebook, April 14, 2024, https://www.facebook.com/libraryofcongress/posts/987654321.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Instagram Posts
Basic Format for Instagram
Footnote/Endnote:
Author Name (@username), description of post or caption excerpt, Instagram photo/video, Month Day, Year, URL.
Example: Instagram Photo Post
Note:
6. National Museum of African American History and Culture (@nmaahc), photograph of Harriet Tubman exhibit, Instagram photo, February 20, 2024, https://www.instagram.com/p/ABC123xyz/.
Example: Instagram Story
Note:
7. Roxane Gay (@roxanegay), Instagram Story, January 5, 2024, archived at https://www.storiesig.com/stories/roxanegay/123456.
Note: Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours. Include archived link or note "no longer available."
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: TikTok Videos
Basic Format for TikTok
Footnote/Endnote:
Creator Name (@username), description of video content, TikTok video, Duration, Month Day, Year, URL.
Example: TikTok Video
Note:
8. History Teacher (@mrhistoryteacher), explaining the causes of World War I, TikTok video, 0:59, March 15, 2024, https://www.tiktok.com/@mrhistoryteacher/video/1234567890123456789.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Other Platforms
Example: Reddit Post
Note:
9. u/HistorianUser, "Primary sources for Civil War research," Reddit post, r/AskHistorians, February 12, 2024, https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/abc123/.
Example: LinkedIn Post
Note:
10. Sheryl Sandberg, "Lessons on leadership from 2023," LinkedIn, December 30, 2023, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sherylsandberg_leadership-activity-123456789.
Example: YouTube Community Post
Note:
11. Crash Course (@crashcourse), announcing new history series, YouTube Community post, January 20, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxABC123.
Chicago Author-Date: Social Media
Example: Twitter/X Post
In-text citation:
(Obama 2024)
Reference list:
Obama, Barack (@BarackObama). 2024. "Climate change is real, and we can fix it. Happy Earth Day, everyone." Twitter, April 22, 10:42 a.m. https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1234567890.
Example: Instagram Post
In-text citation:
(NMAAHC 2024)
Reference list:
NMAAHC (National Museum of African American History and Culture) (@nmaahc). 2024. Photograph of Harriet Tubman exhibit. Instagram photo, February 20. https://www.instagram.com/p/ABC123xyz/.
Example: TikTok Video
In-text citation:
(History Teacher 2024)
Reference list:
History Teacher (@mrhistoryteacher). 2024. Explaining the causes of World War I. TikTok video, 0:59, March 15. https://www.tiktok.com/@mrhistoryteacher/video/1234567890123456789.
When to Use Each System
| Discipline | Recommended System |
|---|---|
| Contemporary History | Notes-Bibliography |
| Digital Humanities | Notes-Bibliography |
| Communication Studies | Author-Date |
| Media Studies | Author-Date |
| Political Science | Author-Date |
| Sociology | Author-Date |
Common Errors to Avoid
1. Quoting Entire Long Posts
For tweets longer than 280 characters or lengthy Facebook posts, summarize or quote a relevant excerpt. Use "..." to indicate omitted text. Full text is only needed for short, significant posts.
2. Missing Timestamps
Include the time of day for Twitter/X posts when possible, especially for breaking news or time-sensitive content. This helps establish the post's context and allows readers to find it more easily.
3. Using Only Usernames
When the author's real name is known (public figures, organizations), use it with the username in parentheses: "Barack Obama (@BarackObama)." For anonymous accounts, use the username as the author.
4. Omitting Platform Names
Always specify the platform (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok). The same username may exist across multiple platforms, and content differs by platform.
5. Dead Links and Deleted Content
Social media posts can be deleted. Note if content is "no longer available" and consider citing screenshots or web archives (Wayback Machine, Archive.today) as backup.
6. Privacy Concerns
Only cite public posts from public accounts. Do not cite posts from private accounts, closed groups, or protected profiles unless you have permission.
Special Cases and Considerations
Thread or Multi-Part Post
Note:
12. Heather Cox Richardson (@HC_Richardson), thread on Reconstruction history beginning "Today in 1865...", Twitter, April 9, 2024, 8:00 a.m., https://twitter.com/HC_Richardson/status/1111111111 (thread).
Comment on Social Media Post
Note:
13. Jane Smith, comment on National Archives post about digitization project, Facebook, January 16, 2024, https://www.facebook.com/USNationalArchives/posts/123456?comment_id=789012.
Deleted or No Longer Available Post
Note:
14. @DeletedAccount, "Historical tweet about 2020 election," Twitter, November 3, 2020 (account deleted; screenshot in author's possession).
Social Media Post Archived on Wayback Machine
Note:
15. Historical Society (@HistorySoc), "Announcing exhibition opening," Twitter, June 1, 2023, archived at Internet Archive, https://web.archive.org/web/20230601/twitter.com/HistorySoc/status/123.
Direct Message or Private Communication
Note:
16. John Smith, Twitter direct message to author, February 5, 2024.
Note: Cite private messages like personal communications. Do not include URLs.
Evaluating Social Media as Sources
Social media posts can serve as valuable primary sources for contemporary history, political movements, public discourse, and cultural phenomena. However, exercise caution when using social media as evidence. Consider the author's credibility, verification status, and the post's context. Official accounts from institutions, verified public figures, and documented events are more reliable than anonymous accounts.
For historical research, social media provides real-time documentation of events and public reactions. Twitter threads, Facebook posts, and Instagram stories can capture moments that traditional media miss. However, always verify information with additional sources and be aware that social media content can be manipulated or taken out of context.
Best Practices
Preservation of Evidence
Take screenshots of important social media sources with visible timestamps and URLs. Save these in your research files. Social media posts can be edited or deleted, making original evidence crucial for verification.
Context Matters
When citing social media, provide enough context for readers to understand the post's significance. A single tweet may be part of a larger conversation or thread. Consider citing related posts or explaining the broader context in your text.
Ethical Considerations
Even though posts are public, consider the ethical implications of citing social media, especially from ordinary users rather than public figures. Some researchers anonymize non-public-figure accounts to protect privacy.
Generate Chicago Citations for Social Media
Create accurate Chicago-style citations for Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and other social media platforms in both Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date formats. Perfect for contemporary research and digital communication studies.