How to Cite a Social Media Post in APA 7th Edition

This guide explains how to format a social media post citation in APA 7th 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 APA 7th Edition:

Template

Author, A. A. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). Content of post up to 20 words [Type of post]. Platform Name. https://www.example.com

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Biden, 2024)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Biden, J. R. [@POTUS]. (2024, January 15). Today we are announcing new investments in clean energy that will create thousands of good-paying jobs [Post]. X. https://x.com/POTUS/status/1234567890

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
Use the real name of the person or organization. Follow with the username in square brackets: [@username]. If only a username is known, use it without brackets.
2
Add the date
Include the full date of the post in (Year, Month Day) format.
3
Write the content
Use the first 20 words of the post as the title (do not italicize). Follow with the type of post in square brackets: [Tweet], [Post], [Status update], [Image attached], etc.
4
Add the platform name
Write the name of the social media platform (X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.).
5
Include the URL
Provide the direct URL to the specific post.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not including the username/handle in square brackets after the author's name.
Omitting the type of post in square brackets (e.g., [Tweet], [Post], [Status update]).
Using more than the first 20 words of the post as the title.
Forgetting to include the specific URL to the post, not just the profile page.
Not including the platform name.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a tweet (post on X)?

Use the author's real name, followed by [@handle]. Include the first 20 words of the tweet as the title and "[Post]" (APA now uses "Post" instead of "Tweet" since the platform rebranded to X).

What if the post includes an image or video?

Describe the attached media in square brackets after the text: [Image attached] or [Video]. If the post is primarily visual, describe it briefly: [Photograph of campus library].

How do I cite a social media profile rather than a specific post?

For a profile page, use the account holder as the author and "About [Page name]" or the bio as the title. Include the retrieval date because profiles change over time: Retrieved March 28, 2026, from URL.

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 real name of the person or organization. Follow with the username in square brackets: [@username]. If only a username is known, use it without brackets.

Add the date

Include the full date of the post in (Year, Month Day) format.

Write the content

Use the first 20 words of the post as the title (do not italicize). Follow with the type of post in square brackets: [Tweet], [Post], [Status update], [Image attached], etc.

Add the platform name

Write the name of the social media platform (X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.).

Include the URL

Provide the direct URL to the specific post.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not including the username/handle in square brackets after the author's name.

Omitting the type of post in square brackets (e.g., [Tweet], [Post], [Status update]).

Using more than the first 20 words of the post as the title.

Forgetting to include the specific URL to the post, not just the profile page.

Not including the platform name.