MLA · 9th Edition
How to Cite an Instagram Post in MLA 9th Edition
Learn how to cite Instagram photos, videos, and reels in MLA 9th edition. Includes template, real example, and formatting tips.
Quick Answer
To cite an Instagram post in MLA 9th edition, use: Author [@handle]. "Caption." Instagram, Day Month Year, URL. Put the post's caption in quotation marks as the title. Italicize "Instagram" — it functions as the container in MLA's model. Use day-month-year format with abbreviated months. Always link to the specific post permalink, not the user's profile. If the post has no caption, write a brief description in square brackets: [Photograph of the Pillars of Creation]. For in-text citations, use the author's name alone: (NASA). The MLA in-text format for social media does not include page numbers or dates. Example: NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail from the James Webb Space Telescope." Instagram, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/. Remember to remove "https://" from the URL, following MLA 9's preference for cleaner citations. CiteMe handles all social media citation formatting across APA, MLA, Chicago, and other styles with a single search.
Quick answer: To cite a instagram post in MLA (9th Edition), use this template: Author [@handle]. "Caption." Instagram, Day Month Year, URL.
Citation template
Full example
Reference / Bibliography
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail from the James Webb Space Telescope." Instagram, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
In-text citation
(NASA)
Source breakdown
- author
- NASA [@nasa]
- title
- The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail from the James Webb Space Telescope
- site
- year
- 15 Nov. 2024
- url
- www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/
Tips
- ✓Use the post's caption as the title, in quotation marks.
- ✓Italicize Instagram as the container title.
- ✓Link to the specific post, not the account profile.
- ✓Use day-month-year format and abbreviate months longer than four letters.
Common mistakes
- ⚠Linking to the profile instead of the individual post.
- ⚠Not italicizing the platform name.
- ⚠Leaving out the handle alongside the real name.
- ⚠Using the year only instead of the full date.
Before & after
Linking to profile instead of specific post
Wrong
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/nasa/.
Correct
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
Always link to the specific post permalink, not the user's profile page. The profile URL does not point to the cited content.
Not italicizing the platform name
Wrong
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
Correct
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
MLA treats the platform as the container. Container titles must be italicized in MLA format.
Using full month name instead of abbreviation
Wrong
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, 15 November 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
Correct
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
MLA abbreviates months longer than four letters. "November" becomes "Nov." with a period.
Frequently asked questions
What do I use as the title if an Instagram post has no caption?
Write a brief description of the image or video in square brackets (e.g., [Photograph of the Pillars of Creation]).
Is an Instagram post a credible source for academic work?
Instagram posts are primary sources when analyzing social media content, public statements, or visual culture. For factual claims, prefer peer-reviewed sources.
Related resources
Other MLA guides
Learn more