LibAnswers: MLA FAQs

Citing tweets, Instagram posts, or Tik Toks may look different from Facebook, but the 9th edition MLA Handbook's core template should be the starting guide(105):

• Author.
• Title of Source.
• Title of Container,
• Contributor,
• Version,
• Number,
• Publisher,
• Publication Date,
• Location.

As always, you're only going to be able to give as much information as is available.

Author

When it comes to platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok with online handles, there are a few ways that you can format this according to the MLA Handbook(118):

• If the online handle (the "@" name) differs from the account name, you can include the online handle in square brackets after the account name.
• If the account name and online handle are virtually the same, you don't have to include the online handle, and just list account name as author-- but this option is only applicable as long as you have the URL included in your works cited entry. If you don't have the URL, include both account name and handle.

Title of Source

The title of the source can be the entire or shortened contents of the social media post, or a description if it's a photo or video.

If it's a long Facebook post, for example, include enough of the post contents for clear identification, and use ellipses at the end to indicate that you shortened the title(130).

Title of Container

The title of container will be the social media platform you viewed the post on. This should be italicized.

Publication date

Thankfully most social media posts should be time stamped for when they were posted. If you deem it necessary due to the possibility of posts being edited or deleted, you can include the date that you viewed the post as a supplemental element at the end of your works cited entry.

Location

The URL can be included as the location. It's best to err on the side of including this, unless you're unable to due to viewing the post on an app and cannot supply a URL.

For more information and examples:

https://style.mla.org/citing-instagram/

https://style.mla.org/citing-facebook/

https://style.mla.org/citing-twitter/

https://style.mla.org/citing-tiktok/

https://style.mla.org/citing-social-media/

Works Cited

MLA Handbook. 9th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2021.