How to Cite Facebook in APA

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 01/10/2024
• Updated on02/07/2024

This article explores the process of citing Facebook posts and pages according to the APA format. 

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HOW TO CITE A FACEBOOK POST

• Use the name linked to the account.
• Specify the exact posting date.
• Provide the first 20 words of the post as the title in italics.Treat URLs, links, hashtags, or emojis as individual words within the initial 20 words; include them in the reference. Avoid italicizing emojis.
• When a post incorporates media, external links, or content from another post, use square brackets for clarification. Denote the post type (e.g., [Status update], [Video]).
• Acknowledge Facebook as the source, crediting it in the reference element, followed by the post’s URL.

Short Lived Facebook Stuff: APA suggests treating things that disappear quickly, such as Stories or Live videos as personal messages since they aren’t saved and stick around for a short time. Verify the Credibility: Before citing a Facebook post or page, ensure that the information is credible and reliable. Cross check the details, investigate the source’s authenticity, and consider the reputation of the page or account. This step is crucial to maintaining the academic integrity of the citation. Provide Contextual Information: When citing Facebook posts, include enough contextual information to aid readers in understanding the reference. This may involve summarizing the key content of the post or page, especially if the title or caption is ambiguous. Contextual clarity ensures that the citation serves its purpose of guiding readers to the relevant information within the social media platform.

HOW TO CITE A FACEBOOK PAGE

• Use the name linked to the account.
• Incorporate the page title into the reference (e.g., “Home,” “About,” “Reviews”). Italicize the page title.
• Include the notation [Facebook page] in square brackets.
• Acknowledge Facebook as the source, 
• Specify a retrieval date due to the dynamic nature of the content, which is designed to change over time and is not archived.
• Provide the URL of the page.

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