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Social Media

Guidelines for Creating Digitally Accessible Social Media Posts

With the growth of social media as a tool for communication, it is important to create accessible posts for all viewers. Digital accessibility ensures people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with digital content. Creating accessible social media posts is crucial to ensure inclusivity and reach a broader audience.

Best Practices for Creating Accessible Social Media Posts

  1. Alt Text for Images:
    • Always provide descriptive alt text for images and GIFs conveying the content and context of the image.
    • To add alt text on Instagram:
      • After selecting an image in Instagram’s posting interface, tap Advanced Settings and then Write Alt Text.
      • Enter a clear and concise description of the image.
    • To add alt text on Twitter (X):
      • Click on the media attachment icon while creating a post.
      • Select the alt text icon and click Add Descriptions.
      • Enter a clear and concise description of the image.
    • To add alt text on Facebook:
      • Click Photo/Video at the top of your Feed.
      • Select the photo you want to add.
      • Hover over the photo and click Edit.
      • Click Alternative Text in the menu on the left side.
      • The automatically generated text will be shown on the left side of your photo. Click Override Generated Alt Text to edit it.
      • Enter your alt text in the box. To change back to the automatically generated text, click Clear.
      • To save your alt text, click Save in the bottom left.
  2. Video Accessibility:
    • Add accurate and synchronized captions or subtitles to videos.
    • Be sure to create transcript files that are suitable for the platform. Most use the .SRT format.
    • To add captions or subtitles on Instagram:
      • After selecting a video in Instagram’s posting interface, tap Advanced Settings and then switch Show Captions on.
    • To add captions or subtitles on Twitter (X):
      • After uploading a video, you can select the media icon to upload a caption file (it MUST be in .SRT format).
    • To add captions or subtitles on Facebook:
      • Click Photo/Video at the top of your timeline or Feed.
      • Choose a video from your computer and click Post.
      • When notified that your video is ready to view, click the notification or the gray date and time at the top of the post on your Feed or timeline.
      • Click … in the top right and select Edit Video.
      • Click Choose File below Upload SRT Files and select a .srt file from your computer.
      • Click Save.
  3. Text on Images:
    • Use clear and readable fonts with sufficient color contrast between text and background.
    • If you are using images with embedded text, provide all essential information in the caption.
  4. Hashtags and Emojis:
    • Use camel case for hashtags (capitalizing the first letter of each word) to improve readability (e.g., #GoKnightsChargeOn.)
    • Limit emoji use to maintain clarity, as screen readers may not interpret them correctly.

How to Check if a Post is Accessible

  1. Alt Text Verification:
    • Before posting, ensure each image has descriptive alt text in the posting interface or attachment settings.
  2. Caption and Subtitle Review:
    • Play videos to verify that captions or subtitles are coordinated and accurately convey the spoken content.
  3. Accessibility Settings:
    • Use the platform’s built-in accessibility features to check how your posts appear to users with different accessibility needs.

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