Social media accessibility features

Overview of accessibility features in social media

Accessibility features, in this instance, is defined as the ability to add alt attributes to an image, or (in YouTube only) captions and audio descriptions

Accessibility features – desktop

Facebook

• Add image
• Edit image
• Select Alt text button
• Select Override generated alt text
• Add alt text

Instagram – cannot add images on desktop

LinkedIn

• Add picture
• Choose picture
• Add alt text button

Pinterest

• Add image
• The “Description” field is the alt attribute

Twitter

• Profile page
• More in left hand navigation
• Settings and privacy
• Accessibility under General
• Select “Compose image descriptions

Then

• Add image
• Under the image is the text “Add description”
• Add alt text

YouTube – unable to add audio descriptions

• Upload video
• Select Edit video button under the video
• Select the Advanced tab
• Select the video language
• Upload Subtitles / CC
• Choose either “With timing” or “Without timing”
• Select captions file
• Save (processing may take several hours)

If automated captions have been created:

• Select Edit video button under the video
• Select the Advanced tab
• Select the button “English by YouTube (automatic)”
• Select Download
• Open in a suitable app (or Notepad)
• Edit as required
• Select Upload Subtitles / CC
• Select “With timing”
• Select the captions file for upload
• Select the button with “English by YouTube (automatic)”
• Select Delete

Accessibility features – iOS

Facebook

• Post photo
• Tap on posted photo
• Select horizontal ellipsis in the top right
• Select Edit alt text
• Tap Override generated alt text
• Add alt text

Instagram – this alt text does not get transferred to Facebook and automated alt text is used instead

• Select image to post
• On the New Post page, select Advanced Settings (under all the other fields in small writing and grey text)
• Select Write alt text
• Write alt text

LinkedIn – unable to add alt attributes

Pinterest

• Add pin
• The Description field is the alt attribute

Twitter

• Profile icon in the top left hand corner
• Settings and privacy
• Accessibility
• Compose image descriptions

Then

• Add image
• Select Add description button overlaying bottom left of image

YouTube – unable to add captions or audio descriptions

Accessibility features – Android

Facebook – unable to add alt attributes

Instagram – this alt text does not get transferred to Facebook and automated alt text is used instead

• Select image to post
• On the New Post page, select Advanced Settings (under all the other fields in small writing and grey text)
• Select Write alt text
• Write alt text

LinkedIn – unable to add alt attributes

Pinterest

• Add pin
• The Description field is the alt attribute

Twitter

• Profile icon in the top left hand corner
• Settings and privacy
• Accessibility
• Compose image descriptions

Then

• Add image
• Select Add description button overlaying bottom left of image

YouTube – unable to add captions or audio descriptions

Want to learn more?

Read more on social media:

• Overview of social media accessibility
• Social media screen reader accessibility compliance testing
• Turning off autoplay
• Social media and alternative text by a blind person