Q. How to cite X (formerly known as Twitter) or Facebook in APA Style?

APA Style (7th ed.)

Include the date of the post, the first 20 words of the post (in the absence of a title), and the name of the social media site followed by the specific URL for the post. Include hashtags, links, and emojis from the original post when possible, and insert the description of audiovisual content in square brackets as part of the title or first twenty words of the post. The generic format for social media content is:

Name of Person or Group. [Username]. (Year, Month Day). Content of the post up to the first twenty words in italics and sentence case [Description of audiovisuals]. Site Name. https://xxxx

Please see the examples below for help with formatting an X post (formerly tweet) or Facebook post.

X post (Tweet)

RRU Library. [@RRULibrary]. (2019, December 10). Please join us in the Library Showcase tomorrow at 1:30 pm to celebrate the Four Feathers Writing Guide. You'll also [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/RRULibrary/status/1204491150763147265

After Twitter's name changed to X in 2023, the term "post" replaced "tweet." As in the example, references to posts that predate the change should use the new terms, since that's what readers will see when they follow the link to the source. URLs for X posts currently still include the twitter.com domain name.

Facebook post

Department of Justice Canada. (2019, December 9). The Canadian Charter is an essential part of Canada’s democracy and brings us together through the protection of our basic [Image attached]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/JusticeCanadaEn/photos/a.187094078105097/1454351764712649/?type=3&theater

Temporary posts (e.g., Facebook Story) and livestreams that have not been recorded or archived by the hosting platform should be cited as personal communication.

For more information, please see pages 348 to 350 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association as well as X References and Facebook References from the APA Style website's Reference Examples.