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APA Style

Your guide to citing and referencing in APA Style (7th edition)

Basic Rules for Social Media Posts

When citing social media posts, keep these rules in mind:

  • Do not change the spelling or capitalization in a social media post (even if the spelling is incorrect!)
  • Include hashtags and links
  • Add the presence of any audiovisuals (photos, videos) in square brackets.
  • If the link to your social media is long, you can shorten it using any online URL shortening site (this is optional -- you can keep the long link)
  • Note emojis in your citation as well!

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If the post includes emojis, try to replicate them in your citation. If you can't replicate the emoji, provide the emoji's name in square brackets (for example: [grinning face]).

You can usually find the emoji's name by moving your mouse over the emoji. If that does not work, the full list of emoji names can be found on the Unicode Consortium's website.

Tweet

Reference

Author's Last Name, Initials or Full Name of Organization [@username]. (Year, Month Day). Text of the tweet up to first 20 words [Tweet]. Site Name. Hyperlinked URL

Ben & Jerry’s [@benandjerrys]. (2020, August 5). Climate action has never been more urgent! [globe showing Americas]. We have 5 ways to join the fight and #voteforclimate this November [Image with link attached] [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/benandjerrys/status/1291056613005168642?cxt=HHwWhMC8scbJ4OojAAAA

In-text Citation

(Author Last Name or Full Name of Organization, Year).

(Ben & Jerry's, 2020).

Twitter Profile

Provide a retrieval date as the contents of a Twitter profile can change over time.

Reference

Author Last Name, Initials or Full Name of Group [@username]. (Year, Month Day). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Hyperlinked URL

Hadfield, C. [@Cmdr_Hadfield]. (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved August 5, 2020 from https://twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield

In-text Citation

(Author Last Name or Full Name of Group, Year).

(Hadfield, n.d.)

Facebook Post

Reference

Author’s Last Name, Initials or Name of Group. (Year, Month Date). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Additional content, if relevant] [Type of post]. Site Name. Hyperlinked URL

City of Richmond Hill. (2020, May 1). With beautiful weather expected this weekend, just a reminder that City park amenities are closed [Image attached] [Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/myrichmondhill/posts/2705809839530410

In-text Citation

(Author Last Name or Name of Group, Year).

(City of Richmond Hill, 2020)

Facebook Page

Include a retrieval date as the information in a Facebook page can change over time.

Reference

Author Last Name, Initials or Name of Group. (n.d.). Home [Facebook page]. Site name. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Hyperlinked URL

Toronto Star. (n.d.). Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved May 5, 2020 from https://www.facebook.com/torontostar

In-text Citation

(Author Last Name or Name of Group, Year).

(Toronto Star, n.d.).

Instagram Photo or Video

Reference

Author Last Name, Initials or Name of Group [@username]. (Year, Month Date). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Type of post]. Site Name. Hyperlinked URL

The Globe and Mail [@globeandmail]. (2020, April 27). For #EarthDay, revisit our story on seven young Canadians and the environmental threats they face today [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_TRCjsjIU3/?hl=en

In-text Citation

(Author Last Name or Name of Group, Year).

(The Globe and Mail, 2020)

TikTok Video

Reference

Author Last Name, Initials or Name of Group [@username]. (Year, Month Date). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Video]. TikTok. Hyperlinked URL

Toronto Star [@torontostar]. (2021, October 4).The #TTC just made it easier to detect people misusing the child #presto card [Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@torontostar/video/7015235477930315014

In-text Citation

(Author Last Name or Name of Group, Year).

(Toronto Star, 2021).

TikTok Profile

Reference

Author Last Name, Initials or Name of Group [@username]. (Year, Month Date). Content of the description up to the first 20 words [TikTok profile]. TikTok. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Hyperlinked URL

Toronto Star [@torontostar]. (n.d.). Canada's largest distribution newspaper: thestar.com [TikTok profile]. TikTok. Retrieved December 9, 2021, from https://www.tiktok.com/@torontostar

In-text Citation

(Author Last Name or Name of Group, Year).

(Toronto Star, n.d.).
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