How to Cite a Social Media Post in Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date)

This guide explains how to format a social media post citation in Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date). 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 Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date):

Template

Author Last, First M. (@handle). Year. "Content up to first 20 words." Platform Name, Month Day, Year. URL.

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

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
Use the real name in Last, First format, followed by the handle in parentheses: (@username). If only a handle is known, use it alone.
2
Add the year
Place the year immediately after the author information, followed by a period.
3
Write the post content
Place the first 20 words of the post in quotation marks as the title. End with a period inside the closing quotation mark.
4
Add the platform and date
Write the platform name (X, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) followed by the full date of the post.
5
Include the URL
Provide the direct URL to the specific post. End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Placing the year at the end instead of immediately after the author.
Omitting the handle/username in parentheses after the author name.
Not placing the post content in quotation marks.
Using more than the first 20 words of the post.
Including a comma between author and year in the in-text citation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a social media post in Chicago Author-Date?

Use the author's real name plus handle, the year after the name, and the first 20 words of the post in quotation marks. Chicago treats social media posts as short works, analogous to articles.

Can I cite social media in a footnote-only format?

Chicago recommends that social media posts be cited in the text or notes but may be omitted from the reference list if they are minor references. However, including them in the reference list is acceptable.

What if the author uses a pseudonym or handle only?

Use the handle as the author without parentheses, e.g., @NateSilver. 2024. If the real name is widely known, you may include it: Silver, Nate (@NateSilver).

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 in Last, First format, followed by the handle in parentheses: (@username). If only a handle is known, use it alone.

Add the year

Place the year immediately after the author information, followed by a period.

Write the post content

Place the first 20 words of the post in quotation marks as the title. End with a period inside the closing quotation mark.

Add the platform and date

Write the platform name (X, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) followed by the full date of the post.

Include the URL

Provide the direct URL to the specific post. End with a period.