How to Ensure That Your Social Media Is Accessible

Guidelines for accessible social media content

1. Make use of fonts that are clear and readable

For posts on social media, the platform’s default font will be used for your text. For certain platforms, you can format the text (bold, italic, and bold italic) using a third-party program. But try not to format the text too much—this can get annoying. Moreover, a screenreader cannot read formatted text.

A wide range of fonts are available for use as captions on your movies and in your photographs. Although using unusual or visually appealing fonts can be attractive, these aren’t always readable.

2. Make use of the right color schemes

Stop using color in your social media posts to convey information. It is the words, not the colors, that should convey the meaning. Users who are colourblind or visually handicapped might not be able to tell one colour from another.

Think about the patterns and colour combinations you use as well. Which background colour complements what text colour the best? Avoid using light-coloured text on dark backgrounds as a general rule. For instance, it is simple to read purple on a green background, while it is more challenging to read light green on a green background. In a similar vein, it is easier to read blue on a yellow background than pink on a yellow background. The font colour and background colour should contrast, with a dark font colour on a light background looking the best.

3. Provide alt text and picture descriptions.

You must include alternate (alt) text when a picture has information that isn’t already covered in the text. This brief textual description accurately captures the visual elements of the image that appear in a screen reader.

You must include any language included in the image (such as a quote from a testimonial) in the description. When necessary, include identifying personal characteristics (such as age, gender, or ethnicity) in the description. Avoid hashtags, URLs, and emojis in alt text. They will not be clickable.

For information on how to add alt text to an image, go to the platform-specific rules. For instance, to add the alt text on LinkedIn, click the ALT button. Whenever possible, make sure the text includes all the information required so that the picture only serves to enhance or clarify the text. You can exclude alt text from images that are purely decorative or don’t include any information that isn’t covered in the text.

4. Use emojis properly

Emojis can give social media messages more personality and visual appeal. Make sure you know what each emoji signifies so you can use them appropriately. But don’t use them excessively—posts with a lot of emojis can come out as unprofessional. Emojis should not be used as bullet points since screenreaders will describe them. Emojis should also be used at the conclusion of paragraphs rather than in the middle of sentences.

Emojis work better than emoticons. Emojis are readable by screenreaders and come with built-in alt text. However, since emoticons are merely a string of punctuation, the screenreader will read each one of them.

5. Analyse the content.

Imagine the person you are writing to is sitting in front of you, and read what you have written aloud. This is the finest approach to test the content of your writing. This will assist you in assessing the inclusivity of your language.

Would you use such language with them?
Have you spoken in a discriminatory manner?
Would what you’ve written make sense to them?
Are they able to connect with it?
Are they aware of what needs to be done and by when, if anything?
Did you remove the jargon?

Remember to verify the content’s accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity before sharing it with others. And if necessary, include more descriptions to make sure your post conforms to best practices.

General recommendations for content accessibility

Here are some general guidelines for digital marketing content on any platform, which includes social media, email, and advertising:

• Use clear, simple language: Avoid jargon and complex terms. Write in a way that most people can understand and follow, regardless of their educational background or familiarity with your industry.
• Give each image an alt text (alternative text): Provide a concise description of each image for screen reader-dependent users. This will facilitate interpretation of visual elements for visually impaired users.

• Make sure there is color contrast: Please choose colors with sufficient contrast to ensure that text is easily readable against different backgrounds. Users who are color blind, have visual problems, or are watching content in bright light will benefit from this.
• Publish transcripts and captions: Provide transcripts for audio information and captions for videos. This is beneficial for people who are in noisy or public settings or who have auditory difficulties.
• Content that flashes more than three times per second should be limited or avoided. Users with photosensitive epilepsy may experience seizures in response to flashing material.
• Try it out on actual users: Include persons with disabilities in the testing procedure. Their personal experiences will give you priceless information about how to make your material really accessible.