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APA, IEEE & AMA citation styles

These guides provide guidance on how to cite sources using APA, IEEE & AMA citation styles; including examples for print and electronic sources.

Citing Social Media

To cite social media as a source, use only the original content of the social media sites, like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. However, if the content in the social media post is not an original source of the post, cite the source directly. For example, if a post on Instagram is linked to a blog, cite the blog directly, not the Instagram post.

Note: 

  • social media posts may include images, audio-visual content, or texts
  • do not change the spelling and capitalization in social media reference
  • if possible, retain the hashtag, links, and emojis

Reference format

Author Date Title Social media site name URL
Twitter and Instagram:  (n.d.).  Content of the post up to the first 20 words Site name https://xxxxxx
Author, A. A. [@username].
Name of Group [@username].		 (2022, March 1). Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://xxxxxx

 

Author Date Title Social media site name URL
Facebook and Others:    Content of the post up to the first 20 words Site name https://xxxxxx
Author, A. A. Name of Group. [Username]. (25 August, 2023). Retrieved 25 August, 2023, from https://xxxxxx

 

Examples:

For Twitter or Instagram

Author last name, First initial. Second initial if given [@Twitter user name]. (Year tweet was posted, Month Day). Text of post up to the first twenty            words [Tweet]. Twitter. URL

For Facebook and others

Canadian University Dubai (25 August, 2023). Enthusiastic kickoff at Canadian University Dubai’s Student Orientation Day! [Image      attached] [Facebook post]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/CanadianUniversityDubai/