What media descriptor do I use for Instagram in APA?

[Photograph] for a single image, [Photographs] for a carousel, and [Video] for a reel — placed after the caption/title.

Who is the author of an Instagram post?

The account. APA uses the real name with [@username] when known (handle alone otherwise); MLA accepts the username.

Can I cite an Instagram Story?

Usually not reliably — Stories disappear after 24 hours and readers can't retrieve them. If essential, screenshot with the date and treat it as non-retrievable evidence noted in your text.

What's the title of an Instagram post?

The caption, up to roughly the first 20 words. If there's no caption, use a short bracketed description of the image or video.

How to Cite an Instagram Post

Updated July 2026

An Instagram post cites like other social media: the account is the author, the caption (up to ~20 words) is the title, and you add a media descriptor ([Photograph], [Video], [Photographs] for a carousel), the platform, date, and URL.

Here are the APA and MLA patterns, plus how reels and Stories differ.

Cite an Instagram post — free

The format

APA: Author [@username]. (Year, Month Day). First words of the caption [Photograph]. Instagram. https://url MLA: @username. “First words of the caption.” Instagram, Day Mon. Year, https://url.

Social post pattern — APA

NASA. (2024, October 26). We found water on the Moon's sunlit surface for the first time. X. https://x.com/NASA/status/1234567890

In-text(NASA, 2024)

Social post pattern — MLA

NASA. "We found water on the Moon's sunlit surface for the first time." X, 26 Oct. 2024, https://x.com/NASA/status/1234567890. Accessed 1 June 2026.

In-text(NASA)

The pieces

Author — the account. APA: real name + [@username] if known, else the handle; MLA accepts the username.
Title — the caption up to ~20 words; a bracketed description if there's no caption.
Media descriptor (APA) — [Photograph], [Video], or [Photographs] for a multi-image carousel.
Platform — Instagram; then the URL of the specific post.
Date — the post date, as specific as shown.

Reels, Stories, and carousels

Reel — use [Video] as the descriptor; cite like a post; timestamp for quotes.
Carousel — [Photographs] (plural) for multiple images.
Story — ephemeral and usually not citable after 24 hours; if essential, screenshot with the date and treat as personal-archive evidence, noting it can't be retrieved by readers.

In-text and credibility

In-text is author–date in APA — (@username, 2024) — author alone in MLA — (@username). As with all social media, ask whether the post is your real source or just where you found one; if it points to a study or article, cite that directly. Official patterns: APA Style Blog and the MLA Style Center.

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Frequently asked questions

What media descriptor do I use for Instagram in APA?: [Photograph] for a single image, [Photographs] for a carousel, and [Video] for a reel — placed after the caption/title.
Who is the author of an Instagram post?: The account. APA uses the real name with [@username] when known (handle alone otherwise); MLA accepts the username.
Can I cite an Instagram Story?: Usually not reliably — Stories disappear after 24 hours and readers can't retrieve them. If essential, screenshot with the date and treat it as non-retrievable evidence noted in your text.
What's the title of an Instagram post?: The caption, up to roughly the first 20 words. If there's no caption, use a short bracketed description of the image or video.

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