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APA Style (7th Edition) Guide: Social media

This guide will help you cite your documents in using the APA 7th ed. publication manula.

Social media

The title of the post consists of the first 20 words of the post. This includes an URL, a hashtag or an emoji, as long as it falls within the first 20 words.

Example:

News From Science. (2019, June 21). Are you a fan of astronomy? Enjoy reading about what scientists

have discovered in our solar system—and beyond? This [Image attached] [Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/ScienceNOW/photos/a.117532185107/10156268057260108/?type=3&theater

The reference entry begins with the name of the writer, X (formerly Twitter) handle in square brackets, date of Tweet, first 20 words of the tweet in italic, indicate in square brackets if the post includes image, video or thumbnail, the word Tweet in square brackets, the site name Twitter, and ends with the URL of the tweet.

Example:

Gates, B. [@BillGates]. (2019, September 7). Today, it’s difficult for researchers to diagnose #Alzheimers patients early

enough to intervene. A reliable, easy and accurate diagnostic would [Thumbnail with link attached] [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1170305718425137152

The reference starts with the name of the writer of the post, an approximate date like month year (LinkedIn does not have exact dates of its posts), first 20 words of the post in italic, indicate in square brackets if the post includes image, video or thumbnail, the word Post or Video in square brackets, the site name LinkedIn, and ends with the URL of the post.

Example:

Goodwin, J. (2019, September). The best part of attending the American Psychological Association's 2019 Convention in

Chicago this year was having the opportunity to [Image attached] [Post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jongoodwin3_apa2019-activity-6569581103441682432-CN98

The reference entry begins with the name of the creator, Instagram handle in square brackets, date of the post, first 20 words of the post in italic, the word Photo or Photograph or Video in square brackets, the site name Instagram, and ends with the URL of the post.

Example of photo:

Philadelphia Museum of Art [@philamuseum]. (2019, December 3). “It’s always wonderful to walk in and see my work in a

collection where it’s loved, and where people are [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5oDnnNhOt4/

Example of video:

APA Public Interest Directorate [@apapubint]. (2019, June 14). Male depression is serious, but many men try to ignore it

or refuse treatment. Different men have different symptoms, but [Video]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/BysOqenB1v7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The reference entry begins with the name of the writer, TikTok handle in square brackets, date of the post, first 20 words of the post in italic, the word Video in square brackets, the site name TikTok, and ends with the URL of the post.

Example:

Washington Post [@washingtonpost]. (2019, December 3). News is all around us #frozen #newsroom #newspaper

[Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@washingtonpost/video/6765886712896818437