Chicago Style Citations

Social Media Basics

Social media posts are not always included in the bibliography or on a reference list. However, frequently cited accounts or long threads can be included. For that reason, we have given information and examples here.

Author & Titles

For Facebook posts, Instagram posts, TikToks, and tweets, include the first 160 characters of the post for the title. Inclusion of the entire post in the note or bibliography is unnecessary.

• The citation should begin with the author's true name, followed by their screen name in parentheses.  If one is missing, use whichever is available.
• The text of the post should be used as the title unless it is quoted in the text.
• Set the post in quotation marks, keeping the original capitalization.

Time Stamps

Time stamps are not always necessary but they can be used to distinguish multiple communications on the same day.

Note: 

1. Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders), “We cannot continue to be the only major country on the planet who does not guarantee a single day of paid leave to new parents,”  Twitter, February 2, 2022, 11:01  a.m., https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1488905298655911938?cxt=HHwWhICp6eDe06kpAAAA. 

Bibliography: 

Sanders, Bernie (@BernieSanders).“We cannot continue to be the only major country on the planet who does not guarantee a single day of paid leave to new parents.” Twitter, February 2, 2022, 11:01 a.m. https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1488905298655911938?cxt=HHwWhICp6eDe06kpAAAA. 

Author-Date in-text citation:

(Sanders 2022) (15.52)

Reference list: 

Sanders, Bernie (@BernieSanders). 2022. “We cannot continue to be the only major country on the planet who does not guarantee a single day of paid leave to new parents.” Twitter, February 2, 2022, 11:01 a.m. https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1488905298655911938?cxt=HHwWhICp6eDe06kpAAAA. 

Note: 

2. Bill Nye, “Dr. King once said 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' Civil rights are human rights. Future generations have a right to” Facebook, January 20, 2020, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158294938090362&id=48947135361&p=30

Bibliography 

Nye, Bill. “Dr. King once said 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' Civil rights are human rights. Future generations have a right to,” Facebook, January 20, 2020, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158294938090362&id=48947135361&p=30

Author-Date in-text citation:

(Nye 2020)

Reference list: 

Nye, Bill. 2020. “Dr. King once said 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' Civil rights are human rights. Future generations have a right to,” Facebook, January 20, 2020, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158294938090362&id=48947135361&p=30

Note: 

3. (@SookieandIvy), “Do your dogs like any of these snacks? #nomnomnom #tastetesting #WildAnimals #fypシ #foryoupage #staffysoftiktok,” Tik Tok, December 4, 2020, https://www.tiktok.com/@sookieandivy/video/6902524226389953798.

Bibliography: 

(@SookieandIvy).  “Do your dogs like any of these snacks? #nomnomnom #tastetesting #WildAnimals #fypシ #foryoupage #staffysoftiktok.” Tik Tok, December 4, 2020. https://www.tiktok.com/@sookieandivy/video/6902524226389953798.

Author-Date in-text citation: (15.52 Souza example)

(@SookieandIvy 2020)

Reference list:

(@SookieandIvy).  2020.  “Do your dogs like any of these snacks? #nomnomnom #tastetesting #WildAnimals #fypシ #foryoupage #staffysoftiktok.” Tik Tok, December 4, 2020. https://www.tiktok.com/@sookieandivy/video/6902524226389953798.