Research Guides: MLA 9th Edition Citation Style Guide: Social Media

Quick tips

In MLA the container for social media is either the website, such as YouTube or the app, like Instagram.

You will need to include the text of the social media post, and do not edit the spelling, capitalization, hashtags, or links.

Twitter and Instagram

EXAMPLE - Tweet

The Museum of English Rural Units [@TheMERL]. "Look at this absolute unit." Twitter, 9 Apr. 2018, https://twitter.com/themerl/status/983341970318938112.

Parenthetical in-text citation: (The Museum of English Rural Units)

Narrative in-text citation: The Museum of English Rural Units

EXAMPLE - Instagram photo or video

Nicklen, Paul [@paulnicklen]. "Commitment. Join me at 5:30 PT this evening as I team up with my gallery, @hilton.asmus.contemporary to bring you a virtual exhibition celebrating art and nature. @mitty and I will be talking live from our home about our journeys as photographers. We will also be discussing how we, as conservationists and artists, are spending our self-isolation. It is our hope to bring our travels and nature into our followers’ homes during this time of social distancing. To watch, please visit hilton-asmus.com." 9 Apr. 2020, https://www.instagram.com/p/B-fb7ciJI9I/.

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Nicklen, 2020)

Narrative in-text citation: Nicklen (2020)

Facebook

EXAMPLE - Facebook post

Ono, Santa J. "A casual message to all of the students at UBC as you get ready for your final exams and projects." Facebook, 14 Apr. 2020, https://www.facebook.com/ubcprez/posts/999020303826857?__tn__=-R.

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Ono)

Narrative in-text citation: Ono

EXAMPLE - Facebook page

Wente, Jesse. "Home." Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/jesse.wente. Accessed 11 Aug. 2021.

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Wente)

Narrative in-text citation: Wente