Social Media Accessibility Guidelines
Simple Language
Write in clear, concise language to make your content more accessible to users with cognitive disabilities or those who are non-native speakers. Avoid jargon and complex sentence structures.
Images
Always include descriptive alt text for images to make them accessible to users who are blind or have low vision. Alt text should briefly describe the content and purpose of the image.
Images, including text overlaid on images, should have a high contrast ratio between the text and the background to be easily readable by users with visual impairments. This is especially important for infographics, posters, and any visuals that convey important information. Use online tools to check color contrast and ensure it meets accessibility standards.
Videos
Captions are essential for making video content accessible to users without hearing and who are hard of hearing. Ensure that captions are accurate and synchronized with the audio.
Provide a transcript of the video’s spoken content, which benefits users who prefer reading or have cognitive disabilities.
Hashtags
Write hashtags in CamelCase (e.g., #socialmediasccessibility) to make them easier to read by screen readers and users with cognitive disabilities. This practice also improves readability for everyone.
Emojis
Emojis can add a fun and engaging element to your content, but it’s important to use them thoughtfully. Make sure they enhance the message and don’t rely solely on emojis to convey important information, as not all users can interpret them easily. Screen readers often describe emojis in detail, so avoid using too many in a single post to prevent confusion. If you do use emojis, place them at the end of sentences rather than in the middle to maintain clarity.
Keyboard Navigation
Ensure that interactive elements, such as links and buttons, can be navigated using a keyboard. This is important for users who rely on keyboard navigation due to motor disabilities.
Check out these documents to help you create accessible content across various social media platforms: