Accessibility Guidelines for Social Media

As a leading institution committed to inclusion, Howard University ensures that our digital communications—especially on social media—are accessible to all audiences, including individuals with disabilities. These guidelines help make our content usable by as many people as possible, reinforcing our values of equity and access. 

1. Alternative Text (Alt Text)

  • Always include descriptive alt text for images shared on platforms that support it (X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads).
  • Describe the essential visual elements of the image, including key actions, facial expressions, and context.
    • Good: “President Vinson speaks at Charter Day ceremony, standing at a podium with the Howard seal in the background.”
    • Poor: “Image of President Vinson.” 

2. Captioning and Transcripts

  • All video content must include closed captions. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram support this natively.
  • For videos with significant spoken content, provide a text transcript in the post or via a link.
  • Avoid auto-generated captions without review—they often contain errors that impact clarity and comprehension.

3. CamelCase Hashtags

  • Use CamelCase (capitalize the first letter of each word) in hashtags, so they are readable by screen readers.
    • Good: #BisonAtTheBeach
    • Poor: #bisonatthebeach 

4. Color Contrast

  • Ensure that any text placed on images or graphics has a strong contrast with the background (e.g., white text on a dark blue background).
  • Avoid using red text and blue backgrounds excessively together, as this combination is hard to differentiate for people with color blindness. 

For an accessibility check, visit here: https://accessibleweb.com/color-contrast-checker/ 

5. Emojis and Symbols

  • Use emojis sparingly and place them at the end of a sentence, not in the middle. Screen readers read each emoji’s description aloud, which can disrupt understanding.
  • Don’t rely on emojis or symbols alone to convey meaning. 

6. Clear and Concise Language

  • Use plain, straightforward language whenever possible.
  • Break up long captions with line breaks and emojis (when appropriate) to enhance readability for all users. 

7. Avoid Flashing or Strobing Content

  • Do not post videos or GIFs with flashing lights or strobing effects, which can trigger seizures in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy. 

8. Accessible Links

  • Use meaningful link text (e.g., “Learn more about our research initiatives” instead of “Click here”).
  • Add link previews or context so users know what to expect when clicking.