How to Cite a Social Media Post in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography)

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

Template

Note: Author First Last (@username), "Content of post up to first sentence," Platform, Month Day, Year, URL. Bibliography: Social media posts are typically cited only in notes or in the running text, not in the bibliography.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

1. Joe Biden (@POTUS), "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.

Bibliography Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your bibliography:

Bibliography entry

Social media posts are typically cited in notes only. If a bibliography entry is required: Biden, Joe (@POTUS). X post, January 15, 2024. https://x.com/POTUS/status/1234567890.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
Use the author's real name followed by their username in parentheses: Joe Biden (@POTUS). If the real name is unknown, use the username alone.
2
Quote the content
Quote the first sentence or a short identifying portion of the post in quotation marks.
3
Add the platform and date
Include the name of the platform (X, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and the full date in Month Day, Year format.
4
Include the URL
Provide the direct URL to the specific post.
5
Decide on bibliography inclusion
Chicago recommends citing social media only in notes. If your instructor or publisher requires a bibliography entry, format it as shown in the reference example.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Including social media posts in the bibliography — Chicago recommends citing them in notes or running text only.
Not including the author's username or handle.
Omitting the platform name.
Using the profile URL instead of the specific post URL.
Quoting too much of the post — include only the first sentence or enough to identify it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do social media posts go in the Chicago bibliography?

Generally, no. Chicago recommends citing social media posts in notes or in the running text only. However, if a post is central to your argument, you may include a bibliography entry.

How do I cite a deleted or unavailable post?

Cite it with all available information and note in your text that the post has been deleted. Include the URL even if it no longer resolves.

How do I handle posts with images or videos?

Describe the media briefly after the quoted text or in place of it: (@username), photograph of campus library, Instagram, Month Day, Year, 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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Format Template

The general pattern for citing a social media post in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography):

Template

Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author

Use the author's real name followed by their username in parentheses: Joe Biden (@POTUS). If the real name is unknown, use the username alone.

Quote the content

Quote the first sentence or a short identifying portion of the post in quotation marks.

Add the platform and date

Include the name of the platform (X, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and the full date in Month Day, Year format.

Include the URL

Provide the direct URL to the specific post.

Decide on bibliography inclusion

Chicago recommends citing social media only in notes. If your instructor or publisher requires a bibliography entry, format it as shown in the reference example.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Including social media posts in the bibliography — Chicago recommends citing them in notes or running text only.

Not including the author's username or handle.

Omitting the platform name.

Using the profile URL instead of the specific post URL.

Quoting too much of the post — include only the first sentence or enough to identify it.