Three accessibility mistakes you're probably making on social media.
Creating engaging social content is the aim of every marketer. But one thing that might go amiss when creating content is digital accessibility.
TL;DR [too long; didn't read] 🤯
- Digital accessibility makes all online content inclusive.
- Add alt-text. Provide context to images and your social post.
- 1-2 emojis per post. Avoid overusing and replacing words with emojis.
- Use Camel Case. Make it easy for everyone to understand your hashtags.
You might not realise it, but you're probably making one, if not all, of these accessibility mistakes on your social accounts. And if it's not accessible, millions of people could miss your message entirely.
The good news? Making your content accessible is free, quick and easy to implement when you know how.
Are you making one of these accessibility mistakes?
Chances are, you’ve made one of these accessibility mistakes without even realising:
- Mistake 1: You didn't add alt text.
- Mistake 2: You're using too many emojis.
- Mistake 3: You aren't capitalising your hashtags.
So let’s walk through each one, and how to fix it.
Creating accessible social content
When it comes to social media, small changes can have a big impact. This blog aims to help make your content more inclusive and ensure your hard work reaches everyone, everywhere.
1. Add alt text
Alt text, or alternative text, describes an image so that people using screen readers can understand what’s being shown.
Alt text is especially important on visual platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. Without it, blind and visually impaired users are left out, particularly if your caption doesn’t explain the image.
How to write good alt text?
When you are writing alt text, remember to;
- Be concise. Keep descriptions under 125 characters.
- Be descriptive. Describe the information in the image, not what you see.
- Include text. Include text that is part of the image if your caption doesn’t cover it.
- Avoid saying “image of”. Screen readers already say it’s an image.
- Avoid keyword stuffing. Google knows what you’re doing, and you will be penalised for it .Avoid using it as a place to add inside jokes, too.
2. Use emojis sparingly
Emojis are great. They're fun, expressive and add interest to the text online. However, as with all things in life, too much of a good thing can be bad. Too many emojis can make content unreadable. Here are some tips:
How you should use emojis:
- Use emojis at the end of your text âś…
- Stick to using 1 of each type of emoji at a time (đź’Ąđź’Ąđź’Ą = chaos).
- Limit your use of emojis to 1 or 2 per post.
Emojis have alt text incorporated, so they are accessible, but only if you use them correctly.
How not to use emojis:
- Don't use emojis at the beginning or middle of your text.
- Don't replace words with emojis.
- Don't use too many emojis!
Why does how you use emojis matter?
Have you heard how multiple emojis sound when read aloud? Spoiler alert: it's not great. RNIB's TikTok has demonstrated exactly how it sounds to screen readers. It might look good, but using multiple emojis is overwhelming and provides a poor user experience.
3. Capitalise your hashtags
Capitalising hashtags, known as using Camel Case, isn’t just a style choice. It is essential for readability and accessibility. When each word in a hashtag starts with a capital letter, it’s easier for everyone to read, especially screen readers.
How to format your hashtags for accessibility?
It's simple, for every new word, add a capital letter to indicate where one word starts and another word finishes. For example:
- Without Camel Case: #Globalaccessibilityawarenessday
- With Camel Case: #GlobalAccessibilityAwarenessDay
One is clear to read, the other, is not so much.
Why does it matter?
Without Camel Case, hashtags can be confusing. Remember the infamous #susanalbumparty? The hashtag was meant to promote Susan Boyle’s new album, but it quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Had they used Camel Case, they would have made the hashtag clearer for everyone and might have avoided the embarrassment.
Let's recap
So there you have it, three accessibility mistakes you've probably made in the past. And three ways to improve the UX of your social content in the future. Accessibility doesn’t need to be complicated; it’s about being more thoughtful, more inclusive, and more human.
Accessible social media checklist
Use this checklist to make sure the content you're creating is always accessible.
Add alt text
- Describe key visual elements clearly.
- Keep it concise but meaningful.
- Use closed captions for videos.
Use emojis sparingly
- Stick to 1–2 per post.
- Remember to place at the end of your text.
- Don’t use them to replace words.
- Avoid repetition (for example, đź’Ąđź’Ąđź’Ąđź’Ą).
Capitalise your hashtags (Camel Case)
- For example #WorldMentalHealthDay uses Camel Case âś….
- This hashtag #worldmentalhealthday is harder to interpret.
Making your social posts accessible isn't hard when you know how. Adding alt text, using emojis wisely, and capitalising your hashtags can make a real difference for your audience.
