Social Media Accessibility Basics

For Post Captions and Text Content

A post caption is the text that accompanies a post on any social media platform. Also referred to as post copy, written caption or post text. 

• Use plain language. Avoid (or define) acronyms.

• Hashtags should use CamelCase.

  • CamelCase: #DigitalAccessibilityProgram

  • Not CamelCase: #digitalaccessibilityprogram

• Use emojis in moderation. If using emojis, place them at the end of your post.

  • Use supplied emojis, not emoticons made out of text characters.

  • Each emoji has an official alt text description. Make sure the description is relevant to your post.

• Do not overuse all caps. Using ALL CAPS can be difficult to read.

• Use simple, platform-supplied fonts.

  • Custom fonts may not be recognized by screen readers and may be completely skipped.

  • If the platform allows you to choose fonts, for paragraph text use a 12 pt (16 px or 1 em), simple sans serif font such as Arial, or Verdana.

Make sure to also follow accessibility guidelines for color and links.

For Images

• Add descriptive alternative (alt) text. Alt text is used by users who are blind, have low vision, and all users for whom images don’t load.

  • Alt text should be brief and describe the main purpose of the image.

  • Some platforms may automatically generate alt text. Review auto-generated alt text for accuracy.

  • Learn more about Alt Text Basics.

  • Learn more about Alt Text Guidance for Specific Platforms.

• Provide image descriptions at the end of the post caption. Image descriptions are a great way to provide context and important information to all users.

  • Describe the purpose, context, and content of each image.

  • Make sure to include any text within the images.

  • Example: Image description (@uofcalifornia)

• Avoid images with text. Text in images creates accessibility barriers because assistive technologies are not able to recognize and convert it.

  • If you must use an image with text, include the text in the alt text or the image description. Even better, include important information in the main body of the post caption.

  • Example: Description of images containing text (@ucdavis)

For Videos

• Ensure videos have accurate captions.

  • Closed captions are the most accessible option, but are not supported on every platform.

  • If closed captions are not supported, use open captions or auto-generated captions. Review auto-generated captions for accuracy.

  • Learn more about Video Captions Basics

  • Learn more about Video Caption Support for Social Media Platforms

• Include a video description at the end of the post caption. Describe important visual elements of the video in the order it appears. Include the purpose, context, and content of the video.

  • Avoid videos without audio or spoken dialogue.

  • When possible, include voiceover for text in videos.

  • Use timestamps for longer videos.

  • Examples:

    • Simple video description (@uofcalifornia)

    • Detailed video description (@uofcalifornia)

    • Video description with timestamps (@uofcalifornia)

• Use high-quality audio. Avoid or minimize background music while people are speaking in your video, as it makes it difficult to hear the speaker.

Additional Resources

• Content Creation for Social Media
• Accessible Social Checklist
• Berkeley Brand Accessible Color Pairings
• Screen Reader Example: UC Davis Social Media Post