Twitter References
This page contains reference examples for Twitter, including the following:
1. Tweet
APA Databases [@APA_Databases]. (2019, September 5). Help students avoid plagiarism and researchers navigate the publication process. More details available in the 7th edition @APA_Style table [Image attached] [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/APA_Databases/status/1169644365452578823
Gates, B. [@BillGates]. (2019, September 7). Today, it’s difficult for researchers to diagnose #Alzheimers patients early enough to intervene. A reliable, easy and accurate diagnostic would [Thumbnail with link attached] [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1170305718425137152
Simons, J. [@Jasper_Simons]. (2015, March 18). Do you like PsycINFO? Then learn about PsycTESTS from @APA here: http://tinyurl.com/mna327j [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/jasper_simons/status/578281883248816130
Stella, T. [@studiotstella]. (2019, November 16). My poster for “The Maltese Falcon” - 1941 by #JohnHuston #DashiellHammett #HumphreyBogart #MaryAstor #PeterLorre #SydneyGreenstreet #Noirvember [Image attached] [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/studiotstella/status/1195804569131003909
- Parenthetical citations: (APA Databases, 2019; Gates, 2019; Simons, 2015; Stella, 2019)
- Narrative citations: APA Databases (2019), Gates (2019), Simons (2015), and Stella (2019)
- Present the name of the individual or group author the same as you would for any other reference. Then provide the Twitter handle (beginning with the @ sign) in square brackets, followed by a period.
- Provide the specific date of the post.
- Provide the first 20 words of the tweet as the title. Count a URL, a hashtag, or an emoji as one word each, and include them in the reference if they fall within the first 20 words. Do not italicize emojis.
- If the tweet includes an image, a video, a poll, or a thumbnail image with a link, indicate that in brackets after the title: [Image attached], [Video attached], [Thumbnail with link attached].
- Include the description “[Tweet]” in square brackets after the title.
- Credit Twitter as the site name in the source element and then provide the URL of the tweet.
- The format used for Twitter is also used for Instagram and TikTok.
2. Twitter moment
APA Style [@APA_Style]. (2019, December 17). What’s new in the #7thEdition of #APAStyle [Moment]. Twitter. Retrieved January 19, 2020, from https://twitter.com/i/moments/1181218317408837633
DeGeneres, E. [@TheEllenShow]. (2018, March 8). Incredible women on The Ellen Show [Moment]. Twitter. Retrieved January 17, 2020, from https://twitter.com/i/moments/971819538411999232
- Parenthetical citations: (APA Style, 2019; DeGeneres, 2018)
- Narrative citations: APA Style (2019) and DeGeneres (2018)
- A Twitter moment is a curated set of stories from Twitter.
- The moment is subject to change (users can add or remove tweets from the moment), even though the date shown for the moment’s page remains static, so the retrieval date is always needed in the reference.
3. Twitter profile
APA Style [@APA_Style]. (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved January 15, 2020, from https://twitter.com/APA_Style
Jordan, M. B. [@michaelb4jordan]. (n.d.). Tweets & replies [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved January 9, 2020, from https://twitter.com/michaelb4jordan/with_replies
- Parenthetical citations: (APA Style, n.d.; Jordan, n.d.)
- Narrative citations: APA Style (n.d.) and Jordan (n.d.)
- Twitter profiles begin on the “Tweets” tab by default. If you want to cite one of the other tabs (e.g., “Tweets & Replies,” “Media,” “Likes”), use the name of that tab rather than “Tweets” in the title element of the reference.
- Include the notation “[Twitter profile]” in square brackets.
- Provide a retrieval date because the content is designed to change over time and is not archived.
- Provide the URL of the page.
Twitter references are covered in Section 10.15 of the APA Publication Manual, Seventh Edition
This guidance is new to the 7th edition.