Social Media For Everyone!
Social media is one of the most widely used tools in the world, but many people cannot fully join in when content is not created with accessibility in mind. According to the World Health Organization, about 1.3 billion people worldwide live with a disability. Since social media relies heavily on visuals and audio, making it accessible is essential. Accessible content promotes inclusion, reaches more users, and often performs better.
This blog will walk you through practical and simple tips to help you make your content accessible to people with disabilities.
Describe Images with Alternative Text
One of the simplest ways to improve accessibility is by using alternative text (alt text) for images. Alt text describes the key elements in a photo or graphic, helping people who cannot see the image(s) understand its meaning.
Keep descriptions short but specific. Instead of writing “image of,” go directly to describing the image. For example, “A child reading a book in the park” or “A bar chart showing sales increasing by 10 percent each year.” Include important details or text in the image directly. If the platform you are using does not provide an alt text option, write the description in the post itself.
Add Captions to Videos
Videos are a major part of social media, and they must have captions to be accessible. Captions provide access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and they also help anyone watching without sound. Captions should include both dialogue and other relevant information, and their timing should match the video. Closed captions, which can be turned on and off, are preferred. If those are not available, open captions can be used so they are always visible. Auto-generated captions can be a starting point, but they are often inaccurate, so reviewing and correcting them is important.
Write in Plain Language
Plain language makes content easier to understand for everyone. Use short sentences, everyday words, and clear structure. Decorative fonts, unusual capitalization, or replacing letters with symbols can confuse some screen readers and should be avoided. Hashtags should be written in Pascal Case, where each word begins with a capital letter, such as SocialMediaForEveryone. This format allows screen readers to pronounce the hashtag correctly. Place hashtags at the end of posts rather than in the middle of sentences to keep the message clear.
Colour Contrast
Colour contrast play a major role in readability. There must be enough contrast between text and background for people with low vision or colour deficiencies to read easily. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend a contrast ratio of at least 4.5 to 1 for normal text and 3 to 1 for large text. In practice, dark text on a light background provides good contrast, while light gray on white does not. Colour should never be the only way to convey meaning. For example, if you use red and green to show differences, add labels, patterns, or symbols so everyone can understand, especially people with colour deficiencies, as certain colour combinations like green and red are inaccessible.
Make Navigation Inclusive
Accessibility also includes thinking about how people navigate content. Some rely on screen readers, keyboards, or voice commands instead of a mouse or touch screen. Content should be designed to work in these ways. Auto playing videos, flashing animations, or fast-moving content can create barriers and should either be avoided or given controls to pause and stop. If important information is shown only visually, add audio descriptions or text summaries so that no one misses the message.
Use Inclusive Language and Symbols
Inclusive language is another key part of accessible social media. Using gender-neutral terms, respectful word choices, and avoiding ableist expressions creates a more inclusive space. Excessive emojis can disrupt how screen readers interpret text, use emojis sparingly. Links and hashtags should remain relevant and not overwhelm the main content.
Making social media accessible removes barriers so everyone can take part. By adding alt text, captions, plain language, good contrast, inclusive navigation, and respectful language, creators can ensure their content is usable by a wider audience. It helps make social media inclusive and welcoming to all.
