How to Cite Instagram in MLA

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 02/06/2024

Citing Instagram posts, photographs, videos, and profiles in academic work is becoming more common, and it’s important to follow the Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines to give proper credit. Here’s a simple guide on how to cite various types of Instagram content using MLA format, along with examples for each.

CITATION ELEMENTS FOR INSTAGRAM IN MLA FORMAT

• Contributor Detail: Use the real name for individual users. For organizations or pages, use the official name without the handle. If the online handle differs, add it in brackets after the name.
• Title Element: If the post has a title, put it in quotation marks. If there’s no title (image and video posts only), describe the content.
• Social Media Platform: Clearly state the social media platform’s name in italics (e.g., Instagram).
• Date of the Post: Include the day, month, and year (in that order) for the publication date, or solely the year. In cases where the date is unavailable, specify the access date at the end of the citation.
• URL: Excluding http:// or https://.

CITING AN INSTAGRAM POST

Citation	Watson, Emma. “Mindful Morning Routine: Start Your Day Right ☀️🌿.” Instagram, 6 Feb. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/C9example123/.
Structure	Contributor. “Title of the Post.” Instagram, Date, URL.

CITING AN INSTAGRAM PHOTOGRAPH

Citation	Evans, Richard. Photo of vegan pizza in Goodcooking. Instagram, 6 Feb. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/Ca1b23d4567.
Structure	Contributor. Description of Photo. Instagram, Date, URL.

Use Descriptive Titles: When citing Instagram, if the content lacks a specific title, provide a descriptive summary. Ensure clarity and accuracy in conveying the essence of the within the citation. Prioritize Accessibility of URLs: When providing URLs, prioritize public accessibility. Ensure that readers can directly access the cited Instagram content without encountering privacy restrictions. For private posts, use the URL of the user’s profile or the page where the content was originally published. Mindful Italicization: Italicize the name of the social media platform (Instagram) in the citation to adhere to MLA style. Consistent italicization helps distinguish the platform name from other elements in the citation.

CITING AN INSTAGRAM VIDEO

Citation	HomeImprovUNeed. Video of DIY tips in Home Improvements. Instagram, 6 Feb. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/Bx8c9AbCDEF.
Structure	Contributor. Description of Video. Instagram, Date, URL.

CITING AN INSTAGRAM PROFILE

Citation	Robinson, Sophia [@Sofsrobs]. “Posts.” Instagram, 2024, www.instagram.com/sophiafitjourney.
Structure	Contributor [@handle]. “Posts.” Instagram, Date, URL.