Social Media Accessibility: How Alt Text Can Make Social Media Posts More Accessible

Social media has opened up new worlds for communities that might otherwise feel left out. For the Deaf community, it’s a place to connect and express themselves.

But did you know you can also make your content accessible to people with limited vision? By adding alt text to your image posts, you ensure everyone can enjoy your content, no matter how they access it.

Alt text is a simple tool that describes the content of your images for those who use screen readers. When you use alt text, you show that your brand values inclusivity and cares about every follower.

Interestingly, OnlySocial now allows you to easily add alt text to your images when posting or scheduling them. That way, you can improve their accessibility and SEO.

In this guide, we will walk you through the importance of alt text and how to use it to boost social media engagement.

What is Social Media Accessibility and Why Does It Matter?

Social media accessibility simply refers to the practice of designing your social posts so everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities, can enjoy them.

This goes beyond compliance – it’s about creating a smooth, inclusive experience for every user. Think of it as making your content universally welcoming.

Non‑accessible content can cause annoying, disruptive experiences, like videos with background noise and no captions. By ensuring your content is accessible, you not only improve engagement but also open your brand up to a larger audience.

According to Pew Research, one in four Americans lives with a disability, and many of these individuals use smartphones and laptops daily. Failing to apply accessibility best practices means missing out on reaching a significant part of your audience.

Alexa Heinrich, a social strategist and accessibility advocate, puts it simply: “Creating accessible social media means ensuring that everyone can access your content.”

When you embed accessibility into your daily content strategy, you boost communication, engagement, and ultimately, the reach of your digital presence.

So, how do you do that? A big part of that is by including alt text in your images.

Understanding What Alt Text Is on Social Media

Alt text – also called alt tags or alternative text – is the written description that explains what’s in an image. It’s more than just a tool for SEO – yeah, we all know it to help search engines understand and rank your content.

But more than that, alt text is also vital for web accessibility. For those who use screen readers due to visual impairments, alt text brings images to life by describing them in detail.

On social media, alt text works the same way. It lets the platform’s algorithm understand your image content while ensuring that everyone, regardless of their ability to see, can enjoy your posts.

Here’s an example of what it looks like on X (formerly known as Twitter):

Despite being simple to add, alt text is often overlooked or misused. We have seen many people use them to hid unnecessary details or cram in irrelevant keywords.

But that’s not the purpose of the alt text should serve. Your alt text should make your social media post more accessible by describing what your image is about to give every viewer a better experience.

What Is the Difference Between Alt Text and Caption?

Alt text and captions are two different tools that often get confused. Here’s how to tell them apart:

Visibility:
Captions are the text you see right below your image. They’re meant to grab attention, explain your message, and encourage engagement.

Alt text, on the other hand, isn’t visible to everyone. It’s hidden in the background as an HTML attribute and is used by screen readers to describe what’s in the image.

Purpose:
Captions are topic‑first. They focus on conveying your brand’s message, sparking conversations, or telling a story. Alt text is image‑first; it simply explains the visual content so that even someone who can’t see the image can understand what’s there.

So, which is more important? Well, we will say both captions and alt texts are important. While captions help your audience connect with your content, alt text ensures that your posts are accessible to everyone, including those with visual impairments. Just use them together for a richer, more inclusive experience.

Best Practices for Using Alt Text on Social Media

Now you know that adding alt texts to your social media posts can improve its chances of being discovered and also enjoyed by everyone that comes across it.

However, to create an effective alt text – that truly delivers all these results, there are some tips you need to bear in mind. Let’s take a look at some of them:

• Keep It Short: Aim for about 100-200 characters to keep your description concise.
• Specify the Image Type: Let readers know if it’s a photo, illustration, screenshot, or another format.
• Describe the Visuals: Focus on what’s actually in the image rather than the broader topic of your post.
• Skip Unnecessary Phrases: Avoid starting with “image of” or “picture of.” Get right into the details.
• Include Overlaid Text: If there’s text on the image, make sure to add it to your alt text.
• Use Relevant Keywords: Sprinkle in a few relevant keywords naturally, so your image is easier to find.
• Avoid Emojis: Emojis can confuse screen readers since they’re taken literally, so stick with plain language.

Pro tip: Don’t overthink it. As Alexa Heinrich puts it, “As the content author, you have the power to decide what details are important in not only your image, but your entire post as well.” So, focus on writing clear, simple descriptions that give all users the full picture.

How to Add Alt Text on Different Social Media Platforms

Adding Alt Text on Facebook

Facebook automatically generates alt text using object recognition. It calls it automatic alt text (AAT). But you can override it to provide a better, more detailed description. To add alt texts on Facebook, below are the steps to follow:

1. Upload your image.
2. Click Edit.
3. Select Alternative Text.
4. Choose Custom Alt Text and write your own description.
5. Click Save to apply your changes.

Adding Alt Text on Instagram

Instagram also uses automatic alt text, but you have the option to customize it for clarity and accuracy.

For a new post:

1. Upload your image and tap Next (iPhone) or the arrow (Android).
2. Scroll down and tap Advanced Settings.
3. Select Write Alt Text and enter your description.
4. Tap Done to save.

For an existing post:

1. Tap the three dots above your post.
2. Choose Edit.
3. Tap Accessibility.
4. Write your alt text in the provided field.
5. Tap Done to update your post.

How to Add Alt Text on LinkedIn

Adding alt text to your images on LinkedIn not only makes your content accessible but also enhances your brand’s inclusivity. Here’s how to do it:

For a LinkedIn post:

1. Upload your image.
2. On desktop, click text; on mobile, tap the three dots and select Alt text.
3. Write your custom alt text in the box provided.
4. Click Done.
5. Hit Post when you’re ready to share your content.

For LinkedIn articles:

1. Upload the image to your article.
2. Click Add alt text at the top right corner of the image.
3. Enter a detailed description of the image.
4. Click Save.

Adding Alt Text on Twitter (Now X)

Twitter (now called X) requires you to manually add alt text. That way, you can ensure that every image is fully described for accessibility. Follow these simple steps to add alt text to your tweet:

1. Upload your image in a Tweet.
2. Click Add description located below the image.
3. Enter your alt text (up to 1000 characters) in the text box.
4. Click Save.
5. Finally, click Tweet to post your content.

How to Add Alt Text to Images Using OnlySocial

Imagine this: you’ve created a stunning image for your social media campaign, but now you need to add alt text for accessibility – and not just on one platform, but across all your channels. Manually updating each platform can be a real hassle, right?

OnlySocial understands your struggle. That’s why we’ve introduced a new feature that lets you add alt text to the images in your scheduled posts across multiple platforms – at the same time. It’s a huge time-saver and ensures that your content remains accessible everywhere you share it.

To use this feature, just follow the steps below:

• Login to your OnlySocial account and click on Create Post to start composing your post.
• Choose the social media platforms you want to publish the post to. You can choose multiple accounts at the same time. That means you can publish the same content to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Twitter at the same time.
• After composing your post, use the media icon at the bottom of the Composer to add images to the post.

• Now, click on the image you would like to add alt text to.

• Click on the Add ALT Text button and type your description in the box below the image. And finally, click on Save.

• That’s it! Your images will now be published with the alt text for the platform that supports the function.

More Tips to Make Your Social Media Posts More Accessible

Creating accessible content isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s also smart business. When you do your best to make sure your posts are inclusive, you open your content to a wider audience and build stronger, more meaningful connections.

Now that we have shown you the important role alt text plays in this, let’s move on to talk about some more tips and best practices that can also help you along the way.

1. Make Your Text Accessible

The first tip we have here is ensuring your text are accessible. Many people love the trendy kind of texts without considering how accessible the text will be to all their audience types. To make your text accessible, pay attention to the following:

• Format Hashtags Clearly: Use “CamelCase” (like #WeLoveTeamSprout) so screen readers can easily parse each word.
• Avoid All Caps: Using all caps can be difficult for screen readers and can also reduce readability for some users.
• Choose the Right Colors: Ensure your text and hyperlink colors have high contrast, especially on landing pages or blog posts.
• Spell Out Acronyms: Introduce acronyms by spelling them out first so everyone understands what they mean.
• Use Plain Language: Write simply and avoid technical jargon so your content is accessible to non-native speakers and those with cognitive impairments.
• Keep Sentences Short: Short, clear sentences improve readability and comprehension.
• Prioritize Key Information: Put the most important details at the beginning of your text to capture attention quickly.

2. Add Closed Captions and Subtitles to Videos

It’s no brainer that adding captions to your video posts can make a huge difference in how much engagement the video gets. It simply makes the video accessible for those with hearing loss or cognitive disabilities.

Here are some best practices to bear in mind when adding captions to your videos:

• Provide More Than Just Words: Closed captions should include background sounds and music cues for full context.
• Ensure High Contrast: Make sure your captions are easy to read against your video background.
• Keep Them Clear and Unobstructed: Position captions so they aren’t hidden by other on-screen elements, especially on platforms like TikTok or Reels.

3. Be Mindful of Emojis

Like alt text is to an image, every emoji has a description assigned to it. For instance, when a screen reader is reading the post below, it would likely read it as, “I pencil love red heart writing writing hand: light skin tone content laptop.”

Of course, you don’t need anyone to tell you this is not good for your content. So, how do you make your post accessible without stopping the use of emojis altogether – really, you shouldn’t stop using them? Here are some tips that could help:

• Use Emojis in Moderation: Too many can confuse screen readers, so place them at the end of your posts where they don’t distract from the main message.
• Avoid in Profile Names: Keeping emojis out of profile names ensures clarity for screen readers and maintains professionalism.

4. Create Accessible Visual Content

• Limit text in graphics: Don’t overload images with text. Instead, use a clear, concise graphic and link to more detailed information elsewhere.
• Include warnings when needed: If your content includes flashing lights or other triggers, add a clear content warning.
• Avoid relying solely on color: Use patterns or labels in addition to color to convey important information for those with colorblindness.
• Use high contrast: Ensure your visuals have a strong contrast ratio (at least 4.5:1) so that text and images are easily distinguishable.

5. Use Inclusive Language

• Avoid biased terms: Steer clear of language that can be exclusionary. For example, use “person with a disability” instead of “disabled person.”
• Stay current: Keep up with evolving language and cultural norms. Tools like a gender decoder can help check your writing.
• Ask when unsure: Don’t assume – ask your audience for their preferred terms and pronouns.

Incorporating these accessibility best practices not only makes your content more inclusive but also enhances overall engagement and trust with your audience.

Final Note

Now you know that social media accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s essential for creating a welcoming space where everyone can enjoy your content.

Alt text is a simple yet powerful tool that plays a major role in ensuring your social media posts are accessible. It helps make your images understandable for those using screen readers, ensuring no one is left behind.

We have given you the best practices and tips for making your posts accessible, it’s time to put this information into action. Start adding meaningful alt text to your images and create content that truly reaches everyone.