Social media can bring people together, but it can also alienate individuals if proper accessibility standards are not followed. We can access social media at any hour—even during virtual meetings or while watching television.
However, creating accessible social media posts is not always straightforward. That’s why understanding the guidelines to make social media posts more inclusive is so important. People who use assistive technology or need stronger contrast in text and visual elements may otherwise find it difficult to fully interact with and benefit from social media content.
Fortunately, you can make your social media platforms more inclusive and reach a broader audience. This gives your company a great opportunity to increase social media interaction while demonstrating to your whole audience that you are paying attention to them.
Tips to Make Social Media Posts Accessible
1. Make Use Of Understandable, Clear Typefaces
Social media posts typically appear in the platform’s default font, which is designed to be readable and accessible. Certain systems let third-party tools enable bold, italic, or bold-italic text by means of some formatting options.
Although these choices might help highlight key ideas, avoid over-formatting, as too much stylization might confuse readers and interfere with the general flow of your message. Remember also that many screen readers may not understand text that is specially formatted, which can make things harder for people who can’t see well.
In videos or images, you might use a broader range of typefaces as subtitles. Although decorative fonts may look appealing, they can make text harder to read quickly. Selecting clean, straightforward, legible typefaces guarantees that all viewers may access and readily understand your material.
2. Make Use Of Suitable Color Schemes
Do not rely solely on color to communicate important information. The words, not the colors, should convey the meaning. People with visual impairments or color blindness may not be able to distinguish between certain colors.
Also, examine your color choices and patterns. What font color looks best against what background? Aim for a dramatic contrast without coming off as unsettling. Aim for strong contrast between text and background, such as dark text on a light background or light text on a very dark background.
High-contrast combinations significantly improve readability for all users. For example, blue on a yellow background is easier to read than pink on yellow. The key is ensuring sufficient contrast so text remains clear for all users.
3. Provide Alt Text And Descriptions For The Images
Include alternate (alt) text when images provide important information that is not already explained in the caption. This is succinct textual information utilized to precisely represent the visual details of the picture that is shown inside a screen reader. “Image of” or “picture of” are not required in the alt text.
You must include any text that appears in the picture (like a testimonial statement) in the description. Additionally, where necessary, include relevant personal details only when they are necessary to understand the image in the description. Emojis, URLs, and hashtags should not be used in alt text. They will not be clickable.
To add alt text to a picture, go to the platform-specific instructions. For instance, you may add alt text on LinkedIn by clicking the ALT button. Where feasible, ensure the text conveys all the required information so that the picture only complements or illustrates the text. When the picture doesn’t provide any information not contained in the text or is purely ornamental, you don’t need to offer alt text.
4. Use Emojis Properly
Including emojis in your social media postings can give them individuality, warmth, and visual appeal, which will help your work be more interesting and relatable. Still, you have to know what every emoji you utilize signifies and make sure it matches the tone and message you wish to project.
Use emojis carefully and with purpose; overloading them can give a post a messy or unprofessional impression. Avoid utilizing emojis as bullet points for accessibility since screen readers will say each emoji aloud, which can be either annoying or misleading.
It’s preferable to put emojis at the end of paragraphs or sentences instead of using them mid-phrase, as they could break the flow of the writing. Pick emojis instead of emoticons every time. While screen readers can understand emojis’ built-in alt text, emoticons are read as discrete punctuation marks, which lowers clarity for those with vision impairment.
5. Use Hashtags
By linking your social media posts to more general discussions and current events, hashtags can greatly boost visibility while also supporting accessibility when formatted correctly. They also provide some visual diversity that helps readers easily grasp the main ideas of your message by breaking up text blocks.
However, like mentions, emoticons, or any other addition, hashtags should be applied consciously. Too much might make your post look messy or unclear. Write hashtags in camel case, which capitalizes the first letter of every word, for accessibility and readability. This helps screen readers interpret them correctly and improves readability.
For instance, look at #mcudrdoom versus #MCUDrDoom; there is a clear contrast in clarity right away. Most of the time, put location hashtags last in your post. Only include them halfway through a sentence if they seem natural and do not interfere with the pace of your work.
6. Add Closed Captions to Your Videos
A significant number of social media videos are watched without sound. Many younger users prefer watching videos with captions, even if they do not have hearing loss. Captions make your content accessible to persons with hearing loss and enhance engagement for everyone quietly reading through their feeds.
Don’t just transcribe speech while making subtitles. When more than one person is speaking, use speaker IDs and provide pertinent background noises in brackets, such as [dramatic music] or [doorbell rings].
Make sure your captions don’t overlap with platform features like action buttons or the TikTok username by placing them properly. Keep in mind that contrast is important here as well. For optimal readability against any video background, use high-contrast captions and ensure they meet recognized accessibility standards.
7. Make Sure Your Word Selections Are Inclusive
Even with good intentions, your posts’ vocabulary might inadvertently irritate or exclude readers, as opposed to making social media posts accessible. Saying “person with a disability” instead of “disabled person” in people-first language emphasizes the person above the impairment and encourages a more polite tone.
One should also know popular idioms with possible discriminatory or ableist undertones. For instance, try words like “oversight” or “insensitive” instead of “tone deaf” or “blind spot.” Substitute “wild,” “astonishing,” or “intense” for “crazy” or “insane.” Particularly in areas like parking or entryways, use “accessible” instead of “handicapped.”
Instead of “stand up for,” go for inclusive choices like “speak up for” or “advocate for.” Also, unless you’re talking about the actual disorder, avoid using “OCD” informally; go for “particular” or “detail-oriented.” Regularly checking your language reveals a real dedication to respect and reach everyone.
Read More: 9 Benefits of Social Media Sentiment Analysis
8. Consider Inclusion When Picking Creative Collaborators
Your work becomes more inclusive when you collaborate with different artists, making it genuine and relevant to a larger audience. When businesses partner with producers who have disabilities or represent various populations, they acquire unique views that help strengthen their content strategy.
One such example is the Work with Me campaign by Virgin Media. The marketing featured influencers with disabilities and promoted workplace accessibility. It touched millions while fostering relevant debates about inclusive employment.
Calvin Klein also teamed with Chella Man, an artist, activist, and actress with hearing loss. The firm elevated different perspectives via its worldwide platform. When selecting partners, go beyond the number of followers to identify content producers who provide a variety of life experiences.
These partnerships let viewers know that your company promotes real representation rather than just performative inclusion that satisfies diversity requirements.
9. Steer Clear Of Strobing Or Flashing Animations
Last but not least, let’s speak about movement in your material. Strobe effects and rapid flashing animations may capture attention. Flashing content can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. According to global health estimates, epilepsy affects around 50 million people worldwide.
Seizures may be triggered by flashing lights between 5 and 30 Hz (flashes per second), a range sometimes seen in digital animations and online video content. Make sure animations don’t include strobe effects, fast flashes, or abrupt color changes before publishing them.
If your material does have triggering components, provide explicit content warnings and prevent auto-playing the content. Most platforms now include sensitive material features, such as TikTok’s photosensitivity warning and Instagram’s “sensitive content” button.
Fast-moving animations and GIFs may overwhelm neurodivergent users and those with vestibular issues in addition to causing seizures. Choose more seamless transitions when in doubt.
Why Social Media Accessibility Is Important
Globally, over one billion people live with some form of disability, according to the World Health Organization. This highlights an important reality: if your social media content is not designed with accessibility in mind, you risk inadvertently excluding a sizable portion of your audience or not reaching them at all.
The more people can see, grasp, and interact with your material depends on how easily it is available. Implementing these best practices directly affects the reach and efficacy of your internet communications initiatives. Accessibility is not just a nice gesture; it’s a calculated move that helps you have more influence and build closer relationships with a wide range of people.
From screen readers and voice navigation to features like Sticky Keys (which helps users with limited mobility) and alternative input devices, today’s technology has simplified participation in online dialogues for those with impairments.
Still, technology by itself cannot provide an inclusive experience. Marketers and content producers need to intentionally make sure their posts are accessible so that everyone can use the visuals, text, and layout.
Ultimately, marketers should prioritize the experience their followers have when engaging with their brand on social media. An easily found internet presence not only shows consideration for every user but also builds confidence and inclusiveness. In simple terms, prioritizing accessibility means respecting your entire audience and ensuring no one is excluded from the conversation.
FAQ
Q: What is the 70/20/10 guideline for social media?
A: Following best practices, 70% of your posts should build your brand and provide value to your audience, 20% should be shared material from other sources, and 10% might be promotional. It’s a simple method to maintain audience engagement and achieve the ideal balance without turning every post into a pitch.
Q: Why is accessibility in social media posts so important?
A: Accessibility guarantees that every user, including those with impairments, can understand and interact with your work. Following accessibility rules helps you broaden your audience, enhance user experience, and make your posts more inclusive.
Q: What easy actions can I do to help my posts become more accessible?
A: Use simple wording, make sure pictures have alt text, type hashtags in camel case, avoid using too many emojis, and check that the colors are easy to see. These little changes enable screen readers to accurately understand your material and enable everyone to readily read your posts.
