How to Cite a Social Media Post in AMA 11th Edition

This guide explains how to format a social media post citation in AMA 11th Edition. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a social media post in AMA 11th Edition:

Template

Author. Title of post. Platform. Published Month Day, Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

superscript 1

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated guidance on RSV vaccination for adults over 60. X (Twitter). Published September 12, 2025. Accessed March 28, 2026. https://x.com/CDCgov/status/9876543210

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
Use the author's real name or the organisation's full name. If only a handle is known, use the handle.
2
Write the post title or content
Use the first meaningful words of the post as the title (up to about 20 words). Write in sentence case without italics. End with a full stop.
3
Add the platform name
Write the name of the social media platform. End with a full stop.
4
Include dates
Write 'Published' followed by the posting date in Month Day, Year format. Then write 'Accessed' followed by the access date in the same format.
5
Add the URL
Include the direct URL to the post. Do not add a trailing full stop.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Omitting the 'Published' and 'Accessed' date labels — AMA requires both to be explicitly labelled.
Using the social media handle instead of the author's real name or organisation name.
Italicising the post text — AMA does not italicise social media post titles.
Forgetting to name the platform (e.g., X, Instagram, Facebook).
Adding a full stop after the URL.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a social media post with no clear title in AMA?

Use the first 20 or so words of the post as the title. Write them in sentence case and end with a full stop.

Should I include the author's handle in AMA social media citations?

If the author's real name is known, use the real name. You may optionally include the handle in parentheses after the name for identification, e.g., 'Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (@CDCgov)'.

Does AMA require both a published date and an accessed date for social media?

Yes. AMA requires both dates, explicitly labelled as 'Published' and 'Accessed'. Both should be in Month Day, Year format.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your social media post:

Author/Username
Content/Title
Platform
Date
URL

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author

Use the author's real name or the organisation's full name. If only a handle is known, use the handle.

Write the post title or content

Use the first meaningful words of the post as the title (up to about 20 words). Write in sentence case without italics. End with a full stop.

Add the platform name

Write the name of the social media platform. End with a full stop.

Include dates

Write 'Published' followed by the posting date in Month Day, Year format. Then write 'Accessed' followed by the access date in the same format.

Add the URL

Include the direct URL to the post. Do not add a trailing full stop.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Omitting the 'Published' and 'Accessed' date labels — AMA requires both to be explicitly labelled.

Using the social media handle instead of the author's real name or organisation name.

Italicising the post text — AMA does not italicise social media post titles.

Forgetting to name the platform (e.g., X, Instagram, Facebook).

Adding a full stop after the URL.