Accessible Social Media Guidelines
How to make your posts inclusive and usable for all audiences
Social media is a fast and fun way to connect with families, staff, and students—but it moves quickly, and accessibility is often overlooked. Following a few easy practices ensures that everyone can engage with your posts, including people who use screen readers, have low vision, are hard of hearing, or process information differently.
Write Clear, Meaningful Captions
- Use plain language.
- Break up long paragraphs into short, readable chunks.
- Place the most important info near the beginning of your post.
- Use sentence case (not ALL CAPS or all lowercase).
- Avoid emojis in place of words—screen readers will read them aloud.
- Place hashtags and emojis at the end of the caption.
Example
Correct: Join us for the Spring Art Show! Thursday, May 9 at 6:30 PM in the gym. Free and open to all families. 🎉🙌
Incorrect: 🎨✨come 2 r SPRING SHOW may 9 gym @ 6:30!!! 🎉🙌
Add Alt Text to Images
All images should include alt text that describes what the image shows and why it’s important.
This helps screen reader users understand your content.
How to add alt text
- Facebook: Before or after uploading, click “Edit Photo” > “Alt Text”
- Instagram: Before posting, tap “Advanced Settings” > “Write Alt Text”
- Twitter/X: Tap the image, then “+ALT” to add alt text before posting
Don’t Rely on Images for Key Info
Avoid posting flyers. If you post an image with text, repeat the key details in your caption.
Text in an image alone isn’t accessible to screen readers.
- Include date, time, location, and who’s invited in the post text.
- Social media graphics should be limited to a quick headline of text. With important information placed in the caption of the post.
Use CamelCase for Hashtags
- Capitalize the first letter of each word in a hashtag:
- Correct: #BlackHistoryMonth
- Incorrect: #blackhistorymonth
- This helps screen readers pronounce them correctly.
Make Videos Accessible
- Add captions to any video you post.
- YouTube and Facebook allow you to upload or auto-generate captions—always review for accuracy.
- For platforms that don’t support closed captions, include the main spoken content in your post.
Use Descriptive Links
If you share a link, make sure:
- The linked page is accessible
- You describe where the link goes
- (e.g., “View the school supply list” instead of “Click here”)
- (e.g., “View the school supply list” instead of “Click here”)
Avoid Problematic Formats
- Don’t post PDFs or scanned flyers in a post—these are often not readable by screen readers.
Quick Checklist for Social Media Posts
Before you post, ask:
- Is the text clear and readable?
- Is key info included in the post—not just in an image?
- Does the image have alt text or a description?
- Does video content include captions?
- Is the content free of flashing or seizure-triggering visuals?
- Are links descriptive and accessible?
Accessible Platforms vs. Accessible Content
Just because a platform (like Google Docs, Canvas, or social media) is designed to be accessible doesn’t mean everything you create on it automatically is. Accessibility depends not only on the tools available, but also on how you use them.
For example, if you add an image in a Google Doc without alt text, or format a heading by changing the font size instead of using proper heading styles, that content will not be accessible—even though the platform supports accessibility.
To make your content truly accessible, you must actively use the platform’s accessibility features (like alt text fields, heading styles, and captioning tools) and follow basic best practices (like good contrast, clear language, and descriptive links). Accessibility is about thoughtful choices, not just the technology.
