Imagine social media as a vibrant virtual celebration, bringing people together from all corners of the globe. Unfortunately, not everyone can join in on the fun. If those who post content don’t follow accessibility best practices, many individuals are left out of the party—and don’t get the message you worked hard to create.
For most of us, scrolling through our feeds is an easy task. But the World Health Organization estimates that 33% of people face vision or hearing impairments. That’s like trying to cross a crowded room to get to the cake while blindfolded and wearing earplugs—a challenge indeed!
With a little bit of know-how and effort, you can make your social media channels more inclusive. In doing so, you not only reach a wider audience and boost your brand, but you’re also showing your followers that you truly value them. Plus, you’ll steer clear of potential legal issues down the road. Let’s make social media a party everyone can enjoy by integrating a few key tools.
Photos and other visuals
Add alternative (“alt”) text to every image. For those with vision impairments, alt text simply offers a textual storytelling version of visual content for those unable to perceive it directly. A simple tip is to ask yourself what is the purpose of the description and then describe the image concisely using no more than 120 characters. For details on image accessibility by platform, visit Accessible Social.
Pay attention to color contrast. If you place text on top or into graphics, pay attention to the contrast between the text and the background. The Universal Design Center at California State University, Northridge, created the example at right. It shows how a stronger contrast optimizes text legibility for those who are color blind or have other vision impairments. In addition, try to keep the font size above 18.
Copy and formatting
Use #CamelCase in hashtags: By capitalizing the first letters of words in a multiple-word hashtag, camel case increases legibility and helps to distinguish words within a hashtag.
Place hashtags and @ mentions at the end of posts.
Use plain language by avoiding slang and spelling out acronyms and abbreviations.
Use link shorteners. Many channels automatically shorten links. Other options include free link shorteners such as Bitly and TinyURL.
Use emojis sparingly and preferably place them at the end of a caption. 
Video
Use open or closed captions in your video content.
Auto captioning is available on most social platforms and is turned on easily with a click in settings. Learn more about what the W3 Consortium says about video accessibility.
These are some key ways to boost accessibility in your social media content, but there’s still plenty more to explore. To keep things organized, here’s a handy checklist you can download. Your commitment to inclusivity matters to us, so feel free to reach out and let us help you integrate for inclusivity. Together, let’s ensure everyone gets their invite to join your social media party!
The post Accessibility Matters in Social Media appeared first on IlluminAge Communication Partners.