Social Media

Clear, plain language benefits every reader — including people using screen readers, people with cognitive disabilities, and people reading on small screens in a second language.

• Write in plain, clear language and keep sentences short
• Break long captions into readable paragraphs rather than posting one long block of text
• Avoid writing in all caps — screen readers announce all-caps text letter by letter, turning "IMPORTANT" into "I-M-P-O-R-T-A-N-T"
• Use CamelCase for all multi-word hashtags so screen readers read them as intended words — #GeauxCajuns, #RaginGrads, #MyULLafayette, #LouisianaBound
• Avoid Unicode stylized text — sometimes called "Instagram fonts" or "fancy fonts" — as these characters are not recognized as standard letters by screen readers and are announced as symbols or skipped entirely

Every image posted on behalf of UL Lafayette must either have meaningful alt text or be explicitly marked as decorative. Screen reader users rely on alt text to understand what an image shows.

• Add alt text to all images when the platform allows it
• Write alt text that describes the image clearly and concisely — what it shows and why it is relevant in context
• Repeat essential information from graphics — dates, times, deadlines, locations, registration links — in the caption or post body as real text. Do not post event details only inside a graphic image
• Avoid using images of text when plain text can be used instead
• Ensure graphics meet minimum color contrast standards: at least 4.5:1 for body text overlaid on a background
• Do not rely on color alone to communicate meaning — pair color with a text label or symbol

How to add alt text by platform:

• Instagram: tap Advanced Settings before sharing → Write Alt Text. To edit after posting: tap the three dots on the post → Edit → Edit Alt Text. Instagram's auto-generated alt text is frequently inaccurate — always write your own
• Facebook: click the image → Options → Change Alt Text. Alt text is auto-generated by default but can and should be edited
• X (Twitter): click "Add description" when attaching an image to a post
• LinkedIn: an "Add alt text" option appears when uploading an image — use it

All video content posted to social media requires captions. Auto-generated captions are a starting point only — they must be reviewed and corrected before the video is published.

• Provide accurate captions for all videos before publishing
• Edit auto-generated captions before publishing — do not rely on them as delivered. Auto-captions average 60–80% accuracy and regularly misidentify names, course-specific vocabulary, and technical terms
• Provide a transcript for longer videos when possible, posted in the caption or linked from the post
• For live streams, enable live captions through the platform before going live, or post a captioned replay as soon as possible after the stream ends
• Ensure important visual information — on-screen text, demonstrations, graphics being discussed — is spoken aloud or described in captions or transcripts

How to caption by platform:

• Facebook and Instagram: captions can be auto-generated and edited within the post editor before publishing
• X / Twitter: upload an SRT caption file with your video, or share a link to a video that has already been captioned
• LinkedIn: captions can be added via the video editor after uploading
• YouTube (when sharing a link): edit captions in YouTube Studio before sharing the link to ensure the captioned version is what recipients see
• TikTok: auto-captions are available and can be edited — always review before publishing

Rapidly flashing or moving content can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy and cause significant discomfort for users with vestibular disorders.

• Avoid rapid flashing or strobe effects in any posted content — content that flashes more than three times per second violates WCAG 2.3.1
• Use GIFs and animation sparingly to avoid sensory overload
• When using an animated GIF, design or select one where the first frame is fully readable as a static image — Outlook and some mobile email clients display only the first frame

Screen reader users often navigate by hearing a list of all links on a page or post, stripped of surrounding context. Every link must make sense on its own.

• Use descriptive link text that explains where the link goes — "Register for the March workshop" not "click here" or "learn more"
• Use clean or shortened URLs when a bare URL must be visible — long tracking URLs are difficult to read aloud and disruptive in captions
• Ensure any webpage, form, PDF, or document linked from social media meets accessibility standards before linking to it. Avoid linking to inaccessible PDFs or documents that cannot be read by assistive technology

Screen readers read emoji descriptions aloud. Multiple emoji in a row, or emoji used as structural elements, create noise that disrupts content for screen reader users.

• Use emojis sparingly — one or two per post maximum
• Do not repeat the same emoji excessively
• Do not use emojis as bullet points or structural elements at the start of each line
• Avoid placing emojis mid-sentence where they interrupt the reading flow
• Never use an emoji as the only way to convey meaning