Social media is a growing phenomenon, with seven in ten Americans using some form of social media. This statistic, combined with the fact that one in four Americans have some form of disability, means keeping social media profiles accessible is vital. Though social media sites have accessibility features, users may wonder how to keep their shared posts accessible independently.
Let’s explore ways to make posts, photos, and other shareable social media information accessible.
Alternative text, or alt text, is “a textual substitute for non-text content in web pages.” It is a short description of what non-text content, usually images, is. Alt text works with screen readers for users who have visual disabilities to be able to experience web content fully.
Many social media sites, like Instagram and X, have alt-text capabilities. Users simply need to turn the feature on to be able to use it. There are automatic alt text options, but usually, it is better to use custom alt text or alt text a user writes themselves to ensure it is accurate and, therefore, fully accessible.
There are some best practices to use with alt text. First, users need to ensure the text can substitute for the image if the image doesn’t load or for screen reader purposes. They also need to describe the image based on its function – conveying information about it rather than just a description. Be specific, and don’t ramble.
Image descriptions are another way social media users can be accessible. Using them in captions of social media photos can also give a textual description of images in digital documents. For people with visual disabilities, image descriptions are helpful.
The difference between alt text and image descriptions is that image descriptions are more detailed. Image descriptions give all the details that someone who can see the image would know – like all colors present, emotions, and specific details that alt text might miss. For example, alt text might say that a woman is cleaning up a mess, while the image description would go into depth and describe the mess.
Like alt text, there are some best practices for writing image descriptions. The description should not use abbreviations. It should also be in the present tense. It should be objective and not censor anything for any potentially objectionable language or controversial material. The image must also include any text within it.
Captions are essential to accessibility. Now that most, if not all, social media sites include video options, making posted videos captioned is a necessary step to ensuring accessibility. Captions “exist to make a video’s audio accessible to audiences with hearing needs or who prefer reading along.” They are part of the video.
Some sites have captioning abilities built into uploading, whether automatic or custom. TikTok, for example, allows for both automatic and custom captions when uploading and enables a user to edit automatic captions. Editing automatic captions is helpful because they are often only sometimes accurate and can render the video inaccessible if they are wrong. If a site does not have captioning abilities, a user should include captions to their video before uploading.
There are also best practices for captions. Captions need to match the timing of the video – when the audio occurs, the captions need to appear. They need to use proper grammar unless the speaker is not using proper grammar. They also should include non-voiced sounds, like indicating when music is playing or traffic sounds.
Plain language means what is written can be understood the first time it is read or heard. This is an important, yet often overlooked, part of accessibility. People with cognitive disabilities who may struggle with comprehension need plain language to have content fully accessible to them. People for whom English is a second language often also appreciate plain language.
Writing social media posts in plain language allows readers to be fully aware of what a user is saying without the barrier of fancy language. There is a myth that plain language “dumbs down” content, but that is not true. Being accessible outweighs the need for more flowery language, and the ability to write concisely is appreciated by many.
Some best practices for writing in plain language are: put information in logical order, use familiar language, use active voice, and mark language changes.
Although social media sites have accessibility features, that doesn’t mean users shouldn’t strive to make their posts accessible. Using alt text, image descriptions, captions, and plain language are ways a user can ensure their content is accessible to all. Accessibility is key in social media and beyond.