As you may have already noticed, there is always a way to cite sources. This LibGuide focuses on the spectrum of unconventional sources.
What is a better example of “opposites attract” than official documents and social media? Read the headings carefully, and as usual, if you have any questions contact the Academic Success Center.
1. Using a URL
2. Classifying it as personal information
3. Citing in classic APA style (in-text citation & reference list (whole) citation)
General Format
1. Author: Provide the last name, and the initial of the first name. The author may also be a group or organization. Followed by:
a. [Social media user name]
b. [Credit other contributors]
2. Date: Use year, month and day in a parenthesis for posts, otherwise mention the year only.
a. Use n.d. for unknown date
b. For unknown but approximate dates, use ca. (circa) followed by the year in square brackets.
c. For multiple citations by the same person in the same year, use the alphabet to differentiate between posts.
3. Title: Provide the name of the page, content, or caption of post (the first 40 words) as the title
a. Italicize titles of items that stand alone (i.e. titles of videos or photo albums)
b. If the item you are citing doesn’t have any words, provide a description of the item enclosed in brackets.
c. Describe the type of content you are citing after the title (i.e. Facebook status update, video file, etc.)
4. Source: Provide a URL that allows others to retrieve the information that you are citing (click on the time stamp of the post).
a.Provide a retrieval date if the content may change.
b.Do not provide a retrieval date if the item you are citing already has a specific date associated with it.
Explore our Citing with Specific Examples tabs to see examples of social media being cited based on these guidelines.
Need Academic Help? Contact the Academic Success Center (ASC)!
There is a general pattern (format) for citing different types of sources. Depending on the additional information that you need to include, there are particular places where the information needs to be inserted.
Take a quick look the general formats and their accompanying slides to cite specific sources.
