Accessible Social Media Checklist
- Hashtags. Use “Camel Case” for hashtags (e.g., #WeLoveTexas). However, limit your use of hashtags because screen readers will read each one out loud.
- Emojis and Special Characters. Use emojis sparingly. Screen readers read out their full descriptions. Never use emoticons such as :-} because screen readers will read each character individually. It is best to avoid using special characters that don’t appear on your keyboard.
- Closed Captions. All videos need synchronized closed captions (sometimes abbreviated as “CC”). Closed captions transcribe all spoken words as well as as well as relevant non-verbal sounds (laughter and applause, for example). Provide the speaker’s name when there are multiple voices. Closed captions should always be provided to the user.
- Note: Closed captions can be turned on and off, as opposed to open captions, which are permanently embedded (i.e., “burned”) into the video and cannot be turned off. Use closed captions instead; you can usually upload them via an .srt file or use auto-captioning tools (such as Stories on Instagram). Subtitles are captions presented in a language other than the one that is primarily spoken in the video.
- Color contrast. The color of text and other meaningful information needs to be distinct from the background color. Yellow text on a white background, for example, is extremely difficult to read. The higher the color contrast, the better. Use WebAIM’s Color Contrast Checker to check the contrast between two colors.
- Alternative Text (or Alt Text) is needed for all non-decorative multimedia, including images, social media posts, graphs, charts, flyers, banners, and infographics. Screen readers (a type of assistive technology) helps individuals with limited or no vision understand what the multimedia is by reading the alt text out loud. Your social media platform should provide a simple way to provide alt text for multimedia. If not, describe the image in the post’s description. Learn how to write effective alt text.
- AI. Always review any automatically- or AI-generated text for accuracy, including closed captions. Avoid duplicating post text in the alt text.
- Links. Links should describe their destination and/or purpose. Do not repeat information in text or link. For example, do not insert links like “read more” or “click here.” Never underline text unless it is a link.
- Plain Language. Write in a way that is clear and easy to understand. Organize content for easy scanning and understanding. Your writing should match Federal Plain Language Guidelines.
- Lists. Use ordered lists (e.g., numbered lists) when items need to be in a specific order (such as step-by-step instructions). Use unordered lists (like bullets) when the sequence matters less (for example, lists of people). Lists organize your content, both visually and practically. It also helps assistive technology navigate your post.