Below is a guide on how to cite some of the most frequently used social media sites in MLA format, APA format, and Chicago style. We cover citing the following media:
How to Cite an Instagram Post
Works Cited entry template and example in MLA format
Last Name, First Name, or Single Username [handle if different from name]. “Photo Title Shortened with Ellipses...” or Description. Instagram, Other contributors (if applicable), Day Month Year posted, URL (omit http:// or https://).
History Channel. “Everything must come to an end, and on #ThisDayinHistory 2007, the seventh and final Harry Potter novel...” Instagram, photographed by Bill Kravitz, 21 Jul. 2017, www.instagram.com/p/BW0FuFGj9Fp/.
Reference List entry template and example in APA Format
Account holder’s Last Name, First Initial, or Username [@Username if different from real name]. (Year, Month Day Published). Photo title up to first 20 words [Photograph]. Instagram.URL
History Channel [@history]. (2017, July 21). Everything must come to an end, and on #ThisDayinHistory 2007, the seventh and final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/BW0FuFGj9Fp/
Bibliography entry template and example in Chicago style
Account holder’s Last name, First name, or Username. “Photo title or description, up to 160 characters.” Instagram, Month Day, Year published. URL.
History Channel. “Everything must come to an end, and on #ThisDayinHistory 2007, the seventh and final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released.” Instagram, July 21, 2017. https://www.instagram.com/p/BW0FuFGj9Fp/.
How to Cite a Facebook Post
Works Cited entry template and example in MLA format
Last Name, First Name (or Username or Page name). “Title or First several words of the post…” Facebook, Day Month Year posted, URL without http:// or https://.
Carey, Theresa. “Elephant seals recognize vocal rhythms to avoid bullies…” Facebook, 20 Jul. 2017, www.facebook.com/pbs/.
Reference List entry template and example in APA Format
Account holder’s Last Name, First Initial, or Username [@Username if different from real name]. (Year, Month Day Posted). Up to the first 20 words of the post... [Media Type]. Facebook URL
Carey, Theresa. (2017, July 20). Elephant seals recognize vocal rhythms to avoid bullies [Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/pbs/
Bibliography entry template and example in Chicago style
Account holder’s Last name, First name, or Username. “Title or the first 160 characters.” Facebook, Month Day, Year published. URL.
Carey, Theresa. “Elephant seals recognize vocal rhythms to avoid bullies.” Facebook, July 20, 2017. https://www.facebook.com/pbs/
How to Cite a Tweet
Works Cited entry template and example in MLA format
Last Name, First Name (if available) [@TwitterHandle if different from name]. Description or “First several words of tweet…” Twitter, Day Month Year posted, URL (omit http:// or https://).
Britannica. “Nelson Mandela, who fought for racial equality and became South Africa’s 1st black president, was born #OTD in 1918…” Twitter, 18 Jul. 2017, twitter.com/Britannica/status/887382776747630594.
Reference List entry template and example in APA Format
Last name, F. [Twitter handle]. (Year, Month Day). Content of tweet up to 20 words [Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved from URL
Example:
Encyclopedia Britannica. [@Britannica]. (2017, July 18). Nelson Mandela, who fought for racial equality and became South Africa’s 1st black president, was born #OTD in 1918 [Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/Britannica/status/887382776747630594
Bibliography entry template and example in Chicago style
Account holder’s Last name, First name, or Username. “Title or the first 160 characters.” Twitter, Month Day, Year published. URL.
Encyclopedia Britannica. “Nelson Mandela, who fought for racial equality and became South Africa’s 1st black president, was born #OTD in 1918.” Twitter, July 18, 2017. https://twitter.com/Britannica/status/887382776747630594.
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