Core Social Media Accessibility Skills
Social media is a powerful way to share information, connect with others, and promote events and services. Making social media content accessible helps ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully engage with your posts.
Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), state and local government entities must ensure that all digital content, including social media posts, is accessible to people with disabilities. This includes text, images, videos, documents, and other media shared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and X.
The compliance deadline is April 24, 2026. All social media content created or shared by public entities must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A and AA standards.
This quick guide will walk you through six core skills that can make a huge difference for anyone visiting your social media profiles or accounts. These skills work across many platforms and can help you create more accessible and effective digital information resources.
For accessibility guidance on blogs and other web-based social media content, please visit the Core Web Accessibility Skills website.
Here is what you will learn:
- Alternative Text: Describe what is important in your images so everyone can understand them.
- Color Contrast: Make sure your text is easy to read for everyone.
- Links: Add meaningful descriptions so people know where a link will take them.
- Audio and Video: Add transcripts or captions so everyone can follow along.
- Documents: Ensure all documents are accessible and follow copyright laws.
- Hashtags and Emojis: Use hashtags and emojis strategically.
Improving accessibility does not have to be overwhelming — small changes can have a big impact. For more information, contact the Digital Accessibility Officer.