Strategies for making your social media posts more accessible: a guide
In today's digital age, social media has become a powerful tool for communication and information sharing. However, it's essential to ensure that this content is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Here's a guide on best practices for optimizing your social media posts to make them inclusive and compliant with accessibility standards.
Add Descriptive Alternative Text for Every Image
Provide a concise but meaningful description of the image’s content or purpose. Avoid redundant phrases like "image of" and ensure the text accurately represents the image. This practice is particularly important for screen reader users.
Use High Contrast Between Text and Background Colors
High contrast between text and background colors aids users with low vision. Tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker can help ensure sufficient contrast ratios.
Caption Videos Accurately
Include closed or open captions and subtitles to make audio content accessible for deaf or hard-of-hearing users, as well as those watching in sound-off environments.
Use Simple, Clear Language and Avoid Jargon
Enhance understandability and inclusivity by using simple, clear language and avoiding jargon.
Format Hashtags with CamelCase
Format hashtags with capitalizing the first letter of each word to help screen readers interpret them properly.
Limit Emoji Use
Screen readers vocalize each emoji, so limit their use to avoid distractions.
Avoid Flashing or Strobing Visual Effects
Prevent seizures and provide warnings if such content is necessary.
Choose Legible, Native Fonts
Use clear, native fonts rather than decorative or custom fonts for better screen reader compatibility and readability.
Ensure Content Can Be Resized and Operated via Keyboard
Ensure your content can be resized (200% zoom) without loss and is operable via keyboard to comply with accessibility standards.
Use ARIA Attributes and Maintain Correct HTML Semantics
For robust compatibility with assistive technologies, use ARIA attributes and maintain correct HTML semantics.
These recommendations align with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) principles of perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness, ensuring that social media content is accessible to a broad audience.
In summary, implementing these strategies helps make social media content inclusive and compliant with current accessibility legislation and standards.
| Accessibility Aspect | Best Practice | |----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Images | Add brief, meaningful alt text; mark purely decorative images as such | | Color and Contrast | Use high contrast colors; verify contrast ratios with tools | | Videos | Add accurate captions and subtitles | | Language | Use clear, simple language; format hashtags with CamelCase | | Fonts | Use clear, native fonts; avoid decorative/custom fonts | | Visual Effects | Avoid flashing content or provide warnings | | Technical Compliance | Ensure keyboard navigation, zoom support, proper HTML semantics, and ARIA usage |
Each step towards a more inclusive and truly accessible web brings us closer to a world where everyone can enjoy and participate in the digital world.
- To maximize the accessibility of images on social media, always include a concise and meaningful description as alternative text, ensuring it's understandable for screen reader users.
- In pursuit of an accessible social media platform, follow the recommended practice of using high contrast colors between text and background to cater to users with low vision.
