5 Ways to Create Accessible Social Media

Social media is a place to stay connected and informed—yet when it is not accessible, some people can’t join in.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This year’s campaign highlights that people with developmental disabilities have always been part of our communities and always will be. Promoting accessibility online is one way we can acknowledge that truth and ensure they’re included.

Advances in technology, such as screen readers and voice apps, have made it possible for people with diverse needs to use and interact on social media. But, the tools aren’t perfect and still require a human touch.

Here are five simple ways to make personal, business and organization social media pages more accessible to all.

1. Add image descriptions

Using photos and other images is more popular than ever on Facebook and LinkedIn, and the main feature on Instagram. Before posting, be sure to add an image description or alt text.

Clarissa Romero Clifford and Emmalee Lay, Digital Marketing Coordinators for Mosaic, said this simple action makes posts more accessible for people who have visual impairments or sensory processing differences.

“If someone uses a screen reader to interact with digital content, they are able to hear the description of the image read out loud to them so that they have access to information that’s included in the image,” Clarissa said.

Image descriptions can be written at the bottom of the post, like this one on Mosaic’s Facebook page celebrating Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. 

Emmalee added that the image description should have specific details, not just a general statement. 

“It’s a simple way to make sure the message of the post is captured for everyone,” she said.

Alt text is added to the photo information and, while not visible on the post itself, is picked up by screen readers. This resource from Disability: In, a nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion, outlines the steps to add alt text.   

2. Include closed captions

Want to make sure the TikTok, Facebook/Instagram Reel or YouTube video you plan to post is accessible? Don’t forget to turn on closed-captioning and make sure the text is visible against the background. 

According to Sprout Social, a social media management platform, closed-captioning makes videos accessible for a variety of users, including people with hearing loss, cognitive disabilities, and even those wanting to learn another language.  

Because the captions are often generated using AI tools, Clarissa stressed the importance of making sure they are correct. 

“If you’ve written a script, you can upload it, but be sure to make sure the captions are correct,” Clarissa said. 

Adding closed captions varies by platform. For example, here are the instructions for YouTube.

3. Limit emoji use

Emojis can add character and cuteness to a social media post, but they are also problematic for people using screen readers or other assistive technologies.

“It’s OK to use them, but be careful not to overdo it and be mindful of where they are placed,” Emmalee said. “It’s best to place them at the beginning or the end of posts.” 

Because screen readers say the names of the emoji, Disability: In says it is best to avoid using multiple in a row so the message of the post is not lost. Emojis should also not be used to replace words. 

4. Keep posts simple

In a sea of social media posts, those with simple, easy-to-understand language stand out and are the most accessible to all users, Clarissa said. 

The National Center on Educational Materials offers these tips to help: 

• Avoid jargon or overly academic language and spell out words instead of using abbreviations and acronyms whenever possible.
• Use Camel Case (e.g., #CamelCase) in more complex hashtags. Capitalizing the first letter of words in multiple-word hashtags will increase their legibility for everyone. It can also make it easier for screen readers to distinguish each word and pronounce the hashtag correctly.

5. Limit photos per post

When someone has a fun event, activity, trip or experience and lots of photos to show for it, their first instinct is to post them all at once. While Instagram limits the number of photos per post, other platforms, like Facebook, allow more. 

To prevent a feeling of overwhelm, Clarissa suggests limiting photos per post to 10 or fewer. 

“Recently, one of our locations wanted to share photos from one of their events, so they broke up the photos and shared them over multiple days,” Clarissa said. “It was a great way to feature the photos and still keep the post simple.”

When posting on social media, some people, businesses and organizations may not pause to think about how people with disabilities and other diverse needs interact with their content. Creating accessible content is one way everyone can make sure those individuals are included in online communities.