Common Accessibility Mistakes on Social Media
We often see well-intentioned content creators miss the mark in these areas:
- Using images or videos without alt text or captions.
- Sharing event flyers as images with no accompanying text description.
- Relying on color alone to convey information.
- Posting stories or reels with important audio and no captions.
- Using decorative fonts that are hard to read.
Tip: Review your content with accessibility in mind before publishing. If you can’t describe what’s happening without the visuals, chances are it’s not fully accessible.
core guidelines
Creating accessible social media content isn't just a good practice, it is essential to ensure that everyone, including users with disabilities, can fully engage with our posts. Below are foundational guidelines to follow across all platforms we use at the University of Wyoming.
What it is: Alt text (alternative text) is a brief description of an image that screen readers use to describe visuals to users who are blind or have low vision.
Why it matters: Without alt text, images are invisible to users who rely on screen readers.
How to do it: Most platforms allow you to add alt text when uploading an image. Describe the content and purpose of the image in a short sentence.
Best practice: Instead of “Image of students,” write: “Four UW students walking across Prexy’s Pasture on a sunny day.”
What it is: Graphics or flyers that contain important information (event details, dates, links) without any accompanying written text in the post.
Why it matters: Screen readers cannot extract text from images, so users with vision impairments will miss that content entirely.
How to fix it: Add all key details from the graphic directly into the post or caption.
What it is: Capitalizing the first letter of each word in a multi-word hashtag (e.g., #GoPokesForever).
Why it matters: Screen readers interpret CamelCase hashtags word-by-word, making them easier to understand.
Best practice: Write hashtags like #GoPokesForever instead of #gopokesforever.
What it is: On-screen text that reflects the spoken words and meaningful sounds in a video.
Why it matters: Captions make your content accessible to deaf or hard-of-hearing users and also benefit users in sound-off environments (like scrolling in public places).
Best practice: Use auto-captioning tools and review them for accuracy. Manually edit or upload your own captions whenever possible. Captions should be synchronized and clearly readable.
What it is: Emojis used in social media posts, sometimes repeatedly or as decoration.
Why it matters: Screen readers interpret each emoji individually, which can be confusing and frustrating for users.
Best practice: Use “Welcome back, students! 🎉” instead of “Welcome back!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🙌🙌🔥🔥💯💯💯”
Stick to one or two emojis, placed at the end of a sentence—not in the middle of important information.
What it is: Using plain, jargon-free language that’s easy to read and understand.
Why it matters: Users with cognitive disabilities, non-native English speakers and people skimming content benefit from clear writing.
Best practice: Avoid acronyms unless they are well-known. Break long posts into shorter paragraphs or bullet points. Use simple, direct sentences whenever possible.
What it is: Making sure that text stands out clearly against the background color.
Why it matters: Poor contrast can make content unreadable for users with low vision or color blindness.
How to check: Use tools like the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker before posting graphics.
Best practice: Dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background is generally safest.
Platform-Specific guidelines
Different platforms offer different accessibility features and it’s important to use them. The guidelines below outline the required steps for making your content accessible on each social media platform we use at UW. These are key to making sure everyone can engage with your content.
Please follow the instructions under each platform accordion when creating posts, videos or stories.
- Always use Facebook’s built-in alt text feature when uploading images. Edit the auto-generated text to ensure it’s accurate and descriptive.
- Include captions for all videos. Upload your own or use Facebook's captioning tools and review for accuracy.
- Avoid posting flyers or text-heavy graphics without also providing a full text description in the post.
- Use clear and descriptive language—avoid vague calls to action like “click here.”
- Use the “Alt Text” field before publishing images to describe the visuals clearly.
- Always add captions or on-screen text for stories, reels, and video posts—audio alone is not accessible.
- Use CamelCase in hashtags (e.g., #FutureCowboys Not #Futurecowboys).
- Avoid using decorative fonts that screen readers can’t interpret.
- Turn on auto-captions for all videos and double-check them for spelling and clarity.
- Avoid effects or flashing elements that can cause issues for people with photosensitivity.
- Include context through on-screen text in case someone is watching without sound—or cannot hear the audio.
- Ensure spoken content is clear and paced appropriately.
- Add alt text when uploading images.
- Caption all videos before uploading or use LinkedIn’s captioning options when available.
- Don’t use vague link text like “learn more.” Instead, write meaningful descriptions like “View the full event schedule.”
- Write in clear, concise language with minimal jargon.
- Upload accurate closed captions for all videos. Auto-captions must be reviewed and edited.
- Write a clear video description summarizing the content and purpose.
- Use proper heading structure and plain text formatting in the video description when sharing links or credits.
- Avoid distracting background music or excessive visual effects that reduce clarity.
Explore More on Accessibility at UW
Social media is just one part of a larger digital experience. To ensure consistency and compliance across all online platforms, we encourage departments and site editors to explore our other Accessibility resources. These pages provide guidance on accessible documents, websites, media and more.
