How to Cite a Social Media Post in Harvard Referencing

This guide explains how to format a social media post citation in Harvard Referencing. 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 Harvard Referencing:

Template

Author (Year) *Title or content of post* [Platform]. Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(World Health Organization, 2024)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

World Health Organization (2024) *New guidelines for pandemic preparedness released today* [X/Twitter]. 15 March. Available at: https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1234567890 (Accessed: 20 March 2026).

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
Use the full name of the person or organisation. Do not use the social media handle as the author name; you may include it in square brackets after the name if helpful.
2
Add the year
Place the year of the post in parentheses.
3
Write the title or content
Italicise the title of the post. If there is no title, use the first few words of the content. Follow with the platform name in square brackets (e.g., [X/Twitter], [Instagram]).
4
Include the date of the post
Write the day and month of the post (e.g., 15 March).
5
Add the URL and access date
Write 'Available at:' followed by the full URL, then '(Accessed: Day Month Year).'

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to include the platform name in square brackets after the title.
Not including the specific date of the post.
Omitting the access date for social media content.
Using the handle (e.g., @WHO) instead of the full name as the author.
Not italicising the title or content of the post.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a social media post with no identifiable author?

Use the username or handle as the author. If even that is unavailable, begin the reference with the title or content of the post.

Should I include the full text of a tweet in my reference?

If the post is short (e.g., a tweet), you may include the full text as the title. For longer posts, use the first meaningful phrase followed by an ellipsis.

How do I handle a platform that has changed its name (e.g., Twitter to X)?

Use the current name of the platform at the time of access. You may include the former name for clarity: [X/Twitter].

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 full name of the person or organisation. Do not use the social media handle as the author name; you may include it in square brackets after the name if helpful.

Add the year

Place the year of the post in parentheses.

Write the title or content

Italicise the title of the post. If there is no title, use the first few words of the content. Follow with the platform name in square brackets (e.g., [X/Twitter], [Instagram]).

Include the date of the post

Write the day and month of the post (e.g., 15 March).

Add the URL and access date

Write 'Available at:' followed by the full URL, then '(Accessed: Day Month Year).'