Below are a few tips to help ensure that your posts are accessible to everyone.
Write informally and in plain language. Avoid abbreviations and spell out acronyms.
CamelCase HashTags - for multi-word hashtags, capitalize the first letters of each section of a compound word (#LikeThisExample).
Avoid using emojis, or at least refrain from using excessive strings of emojis in posts. Screen readers will read a text description of each emoji you use which can be jarring to hear when repeated multiple times in a row.
Provide captions or transcripts
Provide closed captions for all videos. Programs that auto-generate captions (like YouTube or Adobe Premiere) are a good place to start, but you must review and edit them so that they're 99% accurate or better.
Link to transcripts or webpages with full descriptions for complex images like infographics, or for audio and video that is not captioned.
Describe images
Add alt text - note that the instructions may vary slightly depending on whether you're using a smartphone or a computer.
Twitter - Add descriptions to image tweets. After selecting an image, click the "+Alt" button (mobile) on the bottom right of the image to add alt text, or click the link for "Add description" (computer).
Facebook - Add alternative text descriptions to images posted to Facebook. After selecting an image to post, click the "..." in the right corner (mobile) of the image to find the button to add alt text, or click the "Edit" button (computer).
Instagram - Add alternative text in Instagram. When adding an image, on the very last screen, click the link for Advanced Settings and select the option for "Write alt text".
Avoid posting images of text - not all people with low vision use a screen reader, and some may not be able to read the text if it is very small. If you do post an image with text, write out the text in the caption of your tweet or post.
Include event details - if the image pertains to an event, make sure all of the event details like time, place, registration link are also included in the text and not just the image
Resources and examples of the common accessibility issues on social media. Tips for writing links, hashtags, and ways to get around posting images of text statements ("flattened copy").
