APA 7th Edition Referencing Guide1

Quick links

Referencing a blog post with an individual author

The below example shows how to reference a blog post and indicates the elements needed.

Examples

Referencing a blog post with a corporate author

Use the Name of the Website as the corporate author and add Blog to the Website Name in the publisher position to make it clear which part of the website you are referring to.

Referencing Social Media

Facebook page

To reference a Facebook page, use the page title in the reference (e.g. "Timeline", "Home"). Include the notation [Facebook page] in square brackets. Include a retrieval date as information on the page is likely to change. For example:

Page Author. (n.d.). Page title [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieval date and URL

Examples

Facebook post

When referencing an individual post on a Facebook page:

• Give the full date of the post.

• Include up to the first 20 words of the post in the title position of the reference list entry.

• Note in square brackets if the post includes images, video, thumbnail links, or content from other Facebook posts (such as when a post is shared).

• Replicate emojis if possible. 

• Provide the direct URL to the post.

For example:

Post Author. (Full date of post). Title of post [Note if images, thumbnails or links are included]. Facebook. URL

Examples

X profile

To reference an X profile:

• Give the name of the profile, followed by the X handle in [square brackets]. 

• Use the relevant tab as the title in the reference list entry (Posts, Lists, Moments, etc.)

• Include the notation [X profile] in square brackets.

• Provide a retrieval date as contents of the page can change.

For example:

Name of profile [X handle]. (n.d.). Title of relevant tab [Twitter profile]. X. Retrieval date and URL

Examples

X post

• When referencing an X post:

• Give the full date on which the post was posted.

• Use up to the first 20 words of the tweet in the title position of the reference list entry.

• Note in square brackets if images (including animated GIFs), videos, thumbnail links, or links to other posts (reposts) are included.

• Replicate emojis if possible and retain hashtags.

• Provide a direct URL to the post.

For example:

Examples

Instagram post

• When referencing an Instagram post:

• Give a no date as Instragram does not date posts.

• Title: Use up to the first 20 words of the comment in the title position of the reference list entry. If there is no comment, write a description of the photo in square brackets. Eg/ [Young woman posing with book]

• Note the format in square brackets [Photograph].
• Provide a retrieval date and a direct URL to the post.

For example:

TikTok profile

To reference a TikTok profile:

• Give the name of the profile, followed by the TikTok handle in [square brackets]. 

• Give a no date.

• Include a retrieval date as contents of the page can change.

For example:

Surname, A./Name of profile [TikTok handle]. (n.d.). First twenty words of the bio description [TikTok profile]. TikTok. Retrieval date and URL

Examples

TikTok video

• When referencing a TikTok video:

• Give the full date on which the post was posted.

• Use up to the first 20 words of the caption in the title position of the reference list entry. Count a URL or other link, a hashtag, or an emoji as one word each, but do not italicize emojis.

• Include the [Format] at the end of the title section.

For example:

Examples

LinkedIn profile

To reference a LinkedIn profile:

• Use the page title (Home/About/Jobs etc) in the title section followed by [LinkedIn page] as the format. 

• Give a no date.

• Include a retrieval date as contents of the page can change.

For example:

Surname, A./Name of profile. (n.d.). Page title [LinkedIn page]. LinkedIn. Retrieval date and URL

Examples

LinkedIn post

• When referencing a LinkedIn post:

• LinkedIn does not provide exact dates for posts; rather, it tells users how long ago the post was made. Use the date information provided on the post to infer as specific a date as possible for the reference.

• If a post includes images, videos, thumbnail links to outside sources, or content from another post (such as when sharing a link), indicate that in square brackets after the title.

• Use up to the first 20 words of the caption in the title position of the reference list entry. Count a URL or other link, a hashtag, or an emoji as one word each, but do not italicize emojis.

• Include the [Format] at the end of the title section.

For example:

Examples