Social Media Accessibility: Best Practices

Images & Graphics

Why it matters: People who are blind or have low vision rely on alt text and post copy to understand images.

Do:

  • Add alt text on platforms that support it (X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn).
    • Describe the purpose of the image, not every pixel.
  • For photos and slideshows, include image descriptions in the post caption
  • For infographics / text-heavy images:
    • Put key information (who, what, when, where, how) in the post text.
    • Use alt text for a concise summary: what the graphic is and its main message.
  • Memes:
    • Include the key text and the joke in alt text so the humor is conveyed.

Avoid:

  • Alt text like “image,” “graphic,” “photo,” or file names.
  • Relying on image-only flyers for critical info (dates, deadlines, locations).

Video: Captions & Transcripts

Why it matters: Deaf and hard-of-hearing users, people in noisy/quiet environments, and many others depend on accurate captions.

Do:

  • Always enable captions for videos with speech.
    • Use auto-captions as a starting point, then edit for accuracy (names, acronyms, jargon).
  • For short Reels/TikToks/Shorts, use in-app captions and check them.
  • For major / official content (campaign launches, leadership messages):
    • Use edited or professional captions whenever possible.

Avoid:

  • Unedited auto-captions with obvious errors.
  • Important spoken content with no captions.

Color, Text & Visual Design

Why it matters: Low contrast and color-only cues are barriers for people with low vision or color-vision differences.

Do:

  • Aim for contrast ratio ≥ 4.5:1 for regular text, 3:1 for large text.
  • Use brand colors in high-contrast combinations (avoid light text on light backgrounds, especially yellow/orange on white).
  • Avoid “red = bad, green = good” without text or icons—always pair color with labels, patterns, or shapes.

Avoid:

  • Tiny text on busy backgrounds.
  • Information conveyed only by color (e.g., “see the green bar”).

Copywriting: Clear, Inclusive, and Screen‑Reader Friendly

Why it matters: Clear text supports people with cognitive disabilities, language-related disabilities, and everyone who is skimming quickly.

Do:

  • Lead with essentials: who / what / when / where / how to act.
  • Use plain language and short sentences.
  • Use CamelCase hashtags: #UCIAccessibilityWeek (not #uciaccessibilityweek).
  • Write descriptive link text:
    • “Learn more in the Strategic Plan – Pillar 4 Addressing Accessibility” (when linking to UCI’s strategic plan page).
  • Follow inclusive language guidance:
    • Use “person with a disability” or “disabled person” (as contextually appropriate).
    • Prefer more specific terms like “blind person” or “person with low vision,” rather than terms flagged as problematic like “the visually impaired,” per APA’s *Inclusive Language Guide (2nd ed.)

Avoid:

  • “Click here,” “read more,” or bare URLs as link text.
  • Slurs or outdated terms (e.g., “handicapped,” “the disabled,” “the elderly”).
  • Long blocks of unbroken text.

Motion, Flashing, and Effects

Why it matters: Intense motion and flashing can trigger seizures or cause dizziness and nausea.

Do:

  • Avoid flashing content (>3 flashes per second).
  • Use gentle transitions and keep animated elements from competing with key text.
  • Keep moving elements **brief and controllable**; don’t cover important info.

“Pre‑Post” Accessibility Checklist for Social Media

Before you publish social media content, confirm:

  1. Images - Alt text added where supported, and image descriptions in post caption
  2. Video - Captions present and reasonably accurate.
  3. Text & Color - Text is readable and high contrast; no color-only cues.
  4. Copy - Clear, concise, inclusive; hashtags in #CamelCase; descriptive links.
  5. Key Info in Text - Dates, times, locations, deadlines, and calls to action appear in the caption, not image-only.
  6. Motion - No rapid flashing; motion and effects are not overwhelming.

If you can say “yes” to all six, you’re in good shape!

UC Irvine Accessibility resources