How to Cite a Social Media Post in IEEE

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

Template

[1] A. A. Author, "Title or content of post," Platform, Month Day, Year. [Online]. Available: URL

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

[1]

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

[1] World Health Organization, "New guidelines for pandemic preparedness released today," X/Twitter, Mar. 15, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1234567890

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Assign a reference number
Use the next sequential number in square brackets.
2
Identify the author
Use the full name of the person or organisation. Do not use the handle (e.g., @WHO) as the primary author name.
3
Write the post content
Place the title or first meaningful words of the post in double quotation marks.
4
Add the platform and date
Include the platform name (e.g., X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn), followed by the abbreviated month, day, and year.
5
Include the URL
Write '[Online]. Available:' followed by the full URL of the post.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not placing the post content in quotation marks.
Forgetting to include the platform name.
Omitting the specific date of the post.
Not including '[Online]. Available:' before the URL.
Using the social media handle instead of the full name as the author.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Use the username or display name as the author. If that is also unavailable, begin with the post content in quotation marks.

Should I include the full text of a short post (e.g., a tweet)?

For short posts, you may include the full text as the title within quotation marks. For longer posts, use the first meaningful phrase.

How do I handle platforms that have changed their name?

Use the current name of the platform at the time of access. You may include the former name for clarity (e.g., 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

Assign a reference number

Use the next sequential number in square brackets.

Identify the author

Use the full name of the person or organisation. Do not use the handle (e.g., @WHO) as the primary author name.

Write the post content

Place the title or first meaningful words of the post in double quotation marks.

Add the platform and date

Include the platform name (e.g., X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn), followed by the abbreviated month, day, and year.

Include the URL

Write '[Online]. Available:' followed by the full URL of the post.