Skip to Main Content

APA Referencing: Social Media

This Guide will help you to correctly reference your assignments using the APA style.

Social Media

Only reference original content from social media sites. If you find third party content on social media and want to use it, reference it directly. You do not need to indicate that you found it through a link on social media.

Social Media Examples

In-Text

Follow the same format as for journal articles.

 

Reference List

Author Surname, Initial/s. (Publication Year, Month Day). Blog post title. Blog name. URL.

Radin, S. (2020, January 29). Despite its popularity, merching for a cause remains complicated. Fashionista. https://fashionista.com/2020/01/charity-fundraising-merch-problems

Note:

  • Blog posts follow the same format as journal articles.
  • Blog name is in italics, the same as you would for a journal title.
  • Screen names can be used if the author’s name is not available.

The following information applies to public facing pages. Private pages, temporary posts are treated as personal communication.

 

FACEBOOK PAGE

In-Text

(Author Name, Year) OR (Author Name, n.d.)

(Central Regional TAFE, n.d.)

 

Reference List

Author Surname, Initial/s. OR Corporate Author. (Year, Month Day) or (n.d.). Page title [Format description]. Site name. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Central Regional TAFE. (n.d.). About [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved January 31, 2020, from https://www.facebook.com/CentralRegionalTAFE/about

Note:

  • Retain any non-standard spelling, capitalisation, hashtags, emojis etc.
  • The real name of the author or group is provided first, followed by the screen name in square brackets. If only the screen name is known, provide it without brackets.
  • Use the title of the page in italics. e.g. Home, About etc.
  • Include the description [Facebook page] after the title in square brackets.
  • Include retrieval date as content does change and is not archived.

 

FACEBOOK POST

In-Text

As for a Facebook page.

 

Reference List

Author Surname, Initial/s. OR Corporate Author. (Year, Month Day). Post title [Additional formats description if relevant] [Post type]. Site name. URL

Gaiman, N. (2012, February 29). Please celebrate leap year day in the traditional manner by taking a writer out for dinner [Image attached] [Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/neilgaiman/posts/1015057418504201016

Note:

  • If a post also includes images, videos links etc. indicate this in square brackets.
  • Describe the type of post (e.g. [Status update]) in square brackets.

 

In-Text

(Author, Year)

(Central Regional TAFE, 2020)

 

Reference List

Author Surname, Initial/s. OR Corporate Author. [Instagram handle]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of the post title [Post description]. Site name. URL

Central Regional TAFE [@cr.tafe]. (2020, January 30). Coronavirus update for TAFE [Post]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B77iN9vj7Za/

Note:

  • Reference an Instagram Story or Live post as a personal communication if it is not archived or available elsewhere.
  • Retain any non-standard spelling, capitalisation, hashtags, emojis etc.
  • The real name of the author or group is provided first, followed by a screen name in square brackets if there is one. If only the screen name is known, provide it without brackets.
  • Describe the type of post (e.g., “[Photo],” “[Video]”) in square brackets after the title.
  • When referencing an Instagram highlight, include a retrieval statement because highlights can change at any time.

In-Text

(Author Surname, Year) OR (Screen name, Year)

(Arveko, 2011)

(theluckyfrog, 2024)

 

Reference List

Author Surname, Initial/s. OR Corporate Author. [Screen Name]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of the post title [Online forum post]. Site name. URL

Arveko. (2011, October 16). Honda Accord unexpected body painting problem [Online forum post]. Hondaclub. http://www.hondaclub.com/forum/general- automotive/17809-honda-accord-unexpected- body-painting-problem.html

 

theluckyfrog. (2024, April 10). Portugal heat wave pushing thermometers to 30°C [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/1c01pbd/portugal_heat_wave_pushing_thermometers_to_30%C2%BAc/

Note:

  • The real name of the author or group is provided first if known, followed by a screen name in square brackets if there is one.
  • If only the screen name is known, provide it without brackets keeping the exact style.
PLEASE NOTE: By clicking on a link you may be directed to a third party site. You should respect the intellectual property on that site. If you leave the College website, please be aware that the College does not endorse a linked site or guarantee the accuracy or currency of any information contained on a linked site.