LibGuides: APA 7th Edition Referencing Guide1: Blog posts and social media

Quick links

Referencing a blog post

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

Author, A. and/or [username]. (Year, Month day). Title of blog post in sentence case. Title of Blog in Italic Title Case. URL

vaughanbell. (2010, November 1). It only exists if I can see colours on a brain scan. Mind Hacks. http://mindhacks.com/2010/11/01/it-only-exists-if-i-can-see-colours-on-a-brain-scan/

Note
URLs must be written exactly as they are displayed in your Internet browser (https://...). If Word autoformats the URL to the main words of the webpage title, you must change it. See here for how to do this.

Examples

Reference list entry

vaughanbell. (2010, November 1). It only exists if I see colours on the brain scan. Mind Hacks.
http://mindhacks.com/2010/11/01/it-only-exists-if-i-can-see-colours-on-a-brain-scan/

In-text citations

Page/paragraph numbers are optional for paraphrased information.

Narrative
vaughanbell (2010) suggests ... (para. 4).

Parenthetical
... (vaughanbell, 2010, para. 4).

Note
Omit the square brackets from the username when it is the sole author element (as in the example above). Replicate the author's username exactly as it appears online, including the @ symbol if used and nonstandard upper/lowercase characters.

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

Aerogramme Writers' Studio. (n.d.). Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved 24 January, 2020, from https://www.facebook.com/A.WritersStudio/?ref=page_internal

Examples

Reference list entry

Aerogramme Writers' Studio. (n.d.). Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved 24 January, 2020, from https://www.facebook.com/A.WritersStudio/?ref=page_internal

In-text citations

Page/paragraph numbers are optional for paraphrased information.

Narrative
Aerogramme Writers' Studio (n.d.) notes... (para. 4).

Parenthetical
... (Aerogramme Writers' Studio, n.d., para. 4).

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

Aerogramme Writers' Studio. (2020, January 23). Prestigeous literary magazine Granta is currently accepting unsolicited submissions [Thumbnail with link attached]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/A.WritersStudio/posts/2983410645002874

Examples

Reference list entry

Aerogramme Writers' Studio. (2020, January 23). Prestigeous literary magazine Granta is currently accepting unsolicited submissions [Thumbnail with link attached]. Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/A.WritersStudio/posts/2983410645002874

In-text citations

Narrative
Aerogramme Writers' Studio (2020) posted...

Parenthetical
... (Aerogramme Writers' Studio, 2020).

Twitter profile

To reference a Twitter profile:

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

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

Include the notation [Twitter profile] in square brackets.

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

For example:

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

No Such Thing As A Fish [@nosuchthing]. (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved 24 January, 2020, from https://twitter.com/nosuchthing

Examples

Reference list entry

No Such Thing As A Fish [@nosuchthing]. (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved 24 January, 2020, from https://twitter.com/nosuchthing

In-text citations

Narrative
According to the No Such Thing As A Fish (n.d.) Twitter profile...

Parenthetical
... (No Such Thing As A Fish, n.d.).

Tweet

When referencing a tweet:

Give the full date on which the tweet was tweeted.

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 tweets (retweets) are included.

Replicate emojis if possible and retain hashtags.

Provide a direct URL to the tweet.

For example:

Name of Profile [Twitter handle]. (Full date of tweet). Title of tweet [Note if images, etc. included] [Tweet]. Twitter. URL

No Such Thing As A Fish [@nosuchthing]. (2020, January 17). After World War 2, America used its leftover parachutes to drop beavers from planes [Image attached] [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/nosuchthing/status/1218216411031490561

Examples

Reference list entry

In-text citations

Narrative
No Such Thing As A Fish (2020) tweeted...

Parenthetical
... (No Such Thing As A Fish, 2020).

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:

Name of Profile [Instagram handle]. (No date). Title of photograph in italic sentence case [Format]. Instagram. Retrieval date from URL

Moa, A. [@anikamoa]. (n.d). New life is springing up! [Photograph]. Instagram. Retrieved 1 November, 2021 from https://www.instagram.com/p/CSxw9WBBbHv/