Social Media
Handles: A “handle” is a username. If an author’s handle is different than their name, include the handle in square brackets after their name. If the handle and name are similar, you can leave out the handle only if you include a URL.
Social Media Posts
Instead of a title, you quote the full text of the post if it is short. Reproduce the text as written, styled and capitalized. For long posts, include the beginning of the post followed by an ellipsis. If you accessed the post on a mobile device, you don’t need to include a URL.
Author Lastname, Firstname [@username].
“Quoted text of the post.” Site, day Mon.
year, URL.
Gaiman, Neil [@neilhimself]. “I write first drafts
by hand, and then LibreOffice to input on
the second draft, or Final Draft for scripts.”
Twitter, 18 July 2016, twitter.com/
neilhimself/status/754887347758592001.
Haggie, John. “!Public Health Announces Options
Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Dose
Interval….” Facebook, 15 July, 2021,
www.facebook.com/626828230729985/
posts/4212621762150596/?d=n.
If the post is a photo or video, use or include a description of the post:
Hadfield, Chris [@colchrishadfield]. Photo of a
space toilet. Instagram, 26 Sept. 2020.
Jones, James [@notoriouscree]. Video of hoop
dancing. TikTok, 9 Aug. 2021.
YouTube Video
If the author’s name is the same as the uploader’s username:
Author. Title of Video. YouTube, day Mon.
year, URL.
BBC Ideas. The Quiet Power of Introverts.
YouTube, 28 Jan. 2020, youtu.be/
o1Y4Z0oh1GE.
Often on video sharing sites, the person who uploaded the video isn’t the author. If the author is different than the uploader:
Author. Title of Video. YouTube, uploaded by
username, day Mon. year, URL.
Svenska Biografteatern. 1911 - A Trip Through
New York City (speed corrected w/ added
sound). YouTube, uploaded by guy jones,
7 Apr. 2018, youtu.be/aohXOpKtns0.
For more examples, see the MLA Handbook 9th edition, in reference and on reserve at the library, call number: LB 2369 M53 2021.