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Thesis Office: Social Media

Twitter

Notes:

Author's Name (if available) (screen name), "Tweet.," Twitter, date of the post, time stamp (if needed), URL.

Bibliography: 

Author's Name (if available) (screen name). "Tweet." Twitter, date of the post, time stamp (if needed). URL.

Example (Notes)

1. Carla Hayden (@LibnOfCongress), "Welcome to the 117th Congress! The @librarycongress is here to serve you and your constituents back home. The Library's vast collection, resources and services are available for all so we can continue our role as a repository and promoter of the democratic tradition.," Twitter, January 4, 2021, 7:51 a.m., https://twitter.com/LibnOfCongress/status/1346091844132892675.

Example (Bibliography)

Carla Hayden (@LibnOfCongress). "Welcome to the 117th Congress! The @librarycongress is here to serve you and your constituents back home. The Library's vast collection, resources and services are available for all so we can continue our role as a repository and promoter of the democratic tradition." Twitter, January 4, 2021, 7:51 a.m. https://twitter.com/LibnOfCongress/status/1346091844132892675.

Facebook

Notes:

Author's Name (if available) (screen name), "Post.," Facebook, date of the post, time stamp (if needed), URL.

Bibliography: 

Author's Name (if available) (screen name). "Post." Facebook, date of the post, time stamp (if needed). URL.

Example (Notes)

1. NPR, "A new three-part audio documentary explores the history of Haiti — and its continuing influence on one of America's most musical cities: New Orleans.," Facebook, February 1, 2021, https://www.facebook.com/NPR/posts/10160291923841756?__tn__=-R.

Example (Bibliography)

NPR. "A new three-part audio documentary explores the history of Haiti — and its continuing influence on one of America's most musical cities: New Orleans." Facebook, February 1, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/NPR/posts/10160291923841756?__tn__=-R.

 

Instagram

Notes:

Author's Name (if available) (screen name), "Post.," Instagram photo, date of the post, time stamp (if needed), URL.

Bibliography: 

Author's Name (if available) (screen name). "Post." Instagram photo, date of the post, time stamp (if needed). URL.

Example (Notes)

1. International Space Station (@iss), "The space station's orbit takes it as high 51.6 degrees above the equator offering awe-inspiring views of the Earth's aurora in between the city lights and the twinkling stars.," Instagram photo, January 23, 2021, https://www.instagram.com/p/CKZ7nJ4nItB/.

Example (Bibliography)

International Space Station (@iss). "The space station's orbit takes it as high 51.6 degrees above the equator offering awe-inspiring views of the Earth's aurora in between the city lights and the twinkling stars." Instagram photo, January 23, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CKZ7nJ4nItB/.

 

Online Forum

Content posted to forums can be cited like most other types of social media. 

Notes: 

Name of Correspondent, "Title of the Subject or Thread.," the title of the forum, the title of any host site, the date of the message or post, URL. 

Bibliography:

Name of Correspondent. "Title of the Subject or Thread." The title of the forum, the title of any host site, the date of the message or post. URL. 

NOTE: if using a reply to a question on the forum or thread, you can put "reply to "Title of Forum."

Example (Notes)

1. Neil degrasse Tyson, "I am Neil degrasse Tyson, your personal Astrophysicist.," r/IAmA, Reddit, April 2, 2017, https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/631eem/i_am_neil_degrasse_tyson_your_personal/.

Example (Bibliography)

Neil degrasse Tyson. "I am Neil degrasse Tyson, your personal Astrophysicist." r/IAmA, Reddit, April 2, 2017. https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/631eem/i_am_neil_degrasse_tyson_your_personal/.

Example (Author’s Reply)

2. Neil degrasse Tyson, reply to "I am Neil degrasse Tyson, your personal Astrophysicist.," r/IAmA, Reddit, April 2, 2017, https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/631eem/i_am_neil_degrasse_tyson_your_personal/.

 

Elements to Include When Citing Social Media Content

The elements needed for citing social media content in a note or bibliography entry are listed below:

  1. Author of the post -  list the real name of the person, group or institution (if known), followed by a screen name, if any, in parentheses. If only a screen name is known, use the screen name in place of the author's name. 
  2. Use the text of the post instead of a title - quote as much as the first 160 characters, including spaces, capitalized as the original. If the post is quoted in the text, it does not need to be repeated in the note.
  3. The type of post - list the name of the social media service and include a description if relevant (photo, video, etc.).
  4. The date - include the month, day, and year of the post. Time stamps are usually unecessary but can be used to differentiate a post or comment from others on the same day. 
  5. A URL - a URL for a specific item can often be found via the date stamp.