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How to Cite Social Media Posts in APA Format (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)

Updated March 2026 · 4 min read

Quick Answer APA 7th edition social media format: Author Last Name, F. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of post [Content type]. Platform. URL. Include the username in brackets. Use content descriptors like [Tweet], [Photograph], [Status update], or [Video]. Reproduce the post text exactly, including emoji and hashtags. The APA Citation Generator Chrome extension helps format social media citations when on the post's URL.
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Social media posts are increasingly cited in academic research, journalism, and professional reports. APA 7th edition (2020) includes specific guidance for citing posts from Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and other platforms.

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General APA Social Media Format

APA 7th Edition Template Author Last Name, F. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of post [Content type]. Platform. URL

Key elements:

Twitter/X Citations

Tweet — Named Person Gates, B. [@BillGates]. (2023, May 22). AI is the most transformative technology anyone has worked on in decades [Tweet]. Twitter. Https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/example
Tweet — Organization NASA [@NASA]. (2024, February 14). VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL: The universe is full of heart ❤️ #ValentinesDay [Tweet]. Twitter. Https://twitter.com/NASA/status/example
In-Text — Tweet (Gates, 2023)
Twitter → X rebrand: As of 2023, Twitter rebranded to X. APA guidance says to use the platform name as it was called at the time of the post. For posts from before the rebrand, use "Twitter." For posts from after, use "X."

Instagram Citations

Instagram Photo Post National Geographic [@natgeo]. (2024, March 8). A polar bear navigates the thinning sea ice of the Arctic Ocean [Photograph]. Instagram. Https://www.instagram.com/p/example
Instagram Video Mayo Clinic [@mayoclinic]. (2023, October 12). Here's what happens in your brain when you're dehydrated [Video]. Instagram. Https://www.instagram.com/p/example

Facebook Citations

Facebook Status Update — Organization American Red Cross. (2023, August 10). We've deployed emergency response teams to Maui following devastating wildfires [Status update]. Facebook. Https://www.facebook.com/redcross/posts/example
Facebook Video Post TED Talks. (2023, November 5). Can we fix the mental health crisis? Watch our newest talk [Video]. Facebook. Https://www.facebook.com/TED/videos/example

LinkedIn Citations

LinkedIn Post Nadella, S. (2024, January 20). AI is redefining what's possible for developers and businesses [Status update]. LinkedIn. Https://www.linkedin.com/posts/satyanadella_example

TikTok Citations

TikTok Video Science Explained [@scienceexplained]. (2023, September 14). Why do your fingers wrinkle in water? 🤔 #science #biology [Video]. TikTok. Https://www.tiktok.com/@scienceexplained/video/example

Including Emoji and Hashtags

APA 7th edition instructs you to reproduce post text exactly as it appears, including emoji, hashtags, and @ mentions. This accurately represents the original source and allows readers to verify the content.

Example with Emoji and Hashtags CDC [@CDCgov]. (2024, January 8). Flu season is here 🤧 Get vaccinated! #FluSeason #PublicHealth [Tweet]. Twitter. Https://twitter.com/CDCgov/status/example

Citing a Social Media Profile (Not a Specific Post)

If you are citing an account's profile page rather than a specific post:

Template — Profile Page Author Last Name, F. [@username]. (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL
Example — Profile World Health Organization [@WHO]. (n.d.). Posts [Instagram profile]. Instagram. Retrieved March 15, 2026, from https://www.instagram.com/who/

Add a retrieval date for profile pages because the content of a profile changes over time (it has no publication date).

Auto-Generate APA Social Media Citations

Open the post URL in Chrome, click the extension, and copy your formatted citation.

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Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the APA format for citing a tweet?

Author Last Name, F. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of tweet [Tweet]. Twitter. URL.

How do I cite an Instagram post in APA?

Author [@username]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of caption [Photograph or Video]. Instagram. URL.

How do I cite a Facebook post in APA?

Author or Organization. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of post [Status update or Video]. Facebook. URL.

What content type label do I use for social media posts in APA?

Use the descriptor that best fits: [Tweet], [Photograph], [Video], [Status update], [Image attached]. These go in square brackets after the italicized post excerpt.

Should I include emoji and hashtags in APA social media citations?

Yes. APA 7th edition says to reproduce the post text exactly as it appears, including emoji and hashtags, in the first 20 words that serve as the title element.

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