Chicago · 17th Edition
How to Cite a TikTok Video in Chicago Style
Learn how to cite TikTok videos in Chicago 17th edition format. Includes bibliography and footnote examples for social media citations.
Quick Answer
To cite a TikTok video in Chicago style (17th edition), use: Author Name (@handle). "Video description." TikTok, Month Day, Year. URL. Place the creator's real name first, followed by the handle in parentheses. Use the video caption as the title in quotation marks — if no caption exists, write a brief description. You may optionally add a format descriptor in square brackets after the title: "Caption" [video]. Use full month names, as Chicago never abbreviates months. Link to the individual video URL, not the creator's profile page. For footnotes: Author Name (@handle), "Video description," TikTok, Month Day, Year, URL. For author-date in-text: (NASA 2024). Example: NASA (@nasa). "Watch how astronauts wash their hair aboard the International Space Station." TikTok, November 15, 2024. https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345. TikTok videos are informal sources — use them when the video itself is your object of study. CiteMe formats TikTok citations correctly across Chicago, APA, MLA, and Harvard styles.
Quick answer: To cite a tiktok video in Chicago (17th Edition), use this template: Author Name (@handle). "Video description." TikTok, Month Day, Year. URL.
Citation template
Full example
Reference / Bibliography
NASA (@nasa). "Watch how astronauts wash their hair aboard the International Space Station." TikTok, November 15, 2024. https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
In-text citation
(NASA 2024)
Source breakdown
- author
- NASA (@nasa)
- title
- Watch how astronauts wash their hair aboard the International Space Station
- site
- TikTok
- year
- November 15, 2024
- url
- https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345
Tips
- ✓Use the video caption as the title, in quotation marks.
- ✓Write the handle in parentheses after the real name: NASA (@nasa).
- ✓Use full month names — Chicago does not abbreviate months.
- ✓Use the direct video URL, not the creator's profile page.
Common mistakes
- ⚠Using the creator profile URL instead of the individual video URL.
- ⚠Abbreviating the month name.
- ⚠Omitting the handle from the author entry.
- ⚠Forgetting the period at the end of the URL.
Frequently asked questions
Should I add a description of the video content in Chicago?
It is optional but helpful. You can add a brief descriptor in square brackets after the title (e.g., "Caption text" [video]) to clarify the medium for readers.
How do I write the Chicago footnote for a TikTok video?
Footnote: Author Name (@handle), "Video description," TikTok, Month Day, Year, URL.
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