Study first
Review the ideas behind the questions
Check whether a social post can be understood by people who read, listen, zoom, watch without sound, or use assistive technology. Focus on the text, the media, and the fallback before the post goes live.
Make The Text Easy To Read
Short social copy can still create access problems when it relies on shorthand, emoji strings, or unreadable hashtags.
- Public social copy should use plain language and avoid unnecessary jargon.
- Multiword hashtags are easier for screen readers when each word is capitalized.
- Repeated emojis can make a post harder to follow with a screen reader.
In Practice
Check The Read-Aloud Version
Read the post as if every emoji, symbol, and hashtag will be spoken out loud.
Avoid Insider Shorthand
If the post needs a glossary to make sense, rewrite it before it reaches the public feed.
Common mistakes
Treating shorter copy as automatically more accessible.
Short copy still needs clear words, readable hashtags, and restrained emoji use.
Q&A
Why does hashtag capitalization matter?
It helps screen readers separate the words in a multiword hashtag.
Should every fun post avoid emojis?
No. The safer check is to limit them and place them where they do not interrupt the sentence.
Make Images And Video Understandable
A social asset is not ready if important information is only available to people who can see or hear it.
- Alt text should explain the relevant meaning of an image without repeating the post text.
- Text inside an image should be available as real text or included in alt text.
- Social videos need planning for captions and visual information that people cannot hear or see.
In Practice
Alt Text Has A Job
Describe the information the image adds to the post, not every visual detail.
Video Access Has Two Sides
Captions help with speech, while audio description or text support helps with important visuals.
Common mistakes
Letting auto-generated image text stand without review.
Check whether the description explains the relevant meaning and replace weak auto text.
Q&A
What makes social alt text useful?
It gives the same relevant information the image gives to sighted readers.
Fix The Asset Or Provide Another Route
Some social formats make accessibility harder. The team still needs a practical way for people to get the information.
- If accessible social publishing is not possible, provide an accessible duplicate through another route.
- Animated images can create access risks when they loop, lack controls, or include harmful flashing.
- Graphics with poor text contrast should be fixed before they are published.
In Practice
Fallbacks Need To Be Findable
When the accessible version is somewhere else, the post should point people to it where possible.
Design Choices Are Access Choices
A busy background, low contrast, or flashing asset can block the message even when the caption is clear.
Common mistakes
Publishing inaccessible media because the platform made it hard to fix.
Use an accessible duplicate or another supported route instead of leaving people without the information.
Q&A
What if a feature cannot publish the asset accessibly?
Give people an accessible version through another route and point to it where possible.