IT Announcements

Making Social Media More Accessible

April 7, 2023

Commencement season is coming up!  That means we are all busy getting our information and events out in whatever ways we can!  Social media is a quick and easy way to reach a lot of people - but it’s also an easy way to exclude them. Here are some quick and easy ways to ensure your posts are welcoming and inclusive for all audiences.

  • All video content must be captioned - Did you know that people watch videos that are captioned approximately 12% longer than those that aren’t?  And 85% of them are watched with the sound off!  Plus, people tend to remember more content and for a longer time when the video is captioned!
  • Add Alt Text to all posts containing an image and/or transcribe the content of the image.  You can be humorous when it's appropriate to the image.
  • Avoid using transitions that strobe or flash, or using “Slam” transitions in videos - these can cause seizures or distract people with ADD / ADHD.
  • Use plain language - avoiding jargon or techy terms - not everyone knows the lingo.
  • Watch your fonts - use appropriate sizing and sans-serif fonts - avoid "cutesy" or fancy fonts .
  • Avoid or limit the use of emojis - they are read aloud by the screen reader - take a moment to see what your favorite emoji will be read out as.  
  • Use Camel Case for Hashtags that are multiple words (#UseUpperCaseLettersToDifferentiateWordsInYourTags)
  • Use hashtags and mentions at the end of posts. 

For further tips on making your posts welcoming and inclusive 

Facebook:

Twitter:

YouTube:

Pinterest:

LinkedIn: