MLA · 9th Edition
How to Cite a TikTok Video in MLA 9th Edition
Learn how to cite TikTok videos in MLA 9th edition format. Includes template, real example, and common formatting mistakes.
Quick Answer
To cite a TikTok video in MLA 9th edition, use: Author [@handle]. "Video description." TikTok, Day Month Year, URL. Place the video caption in quotation marks as the title. If there is no caption, write a brief description in square brackets: [Video of aurora borealis from ISS]. Italicize "TikTok" as the container name. Use day-month-year format and abbreviate months. Link to the specific video URL, not the creator's profile page. For in-text citations, use the author name only: (NASA). Example: NASA [@nasa]. "Watch how astronauts wash their hair aboard the International Space Station." TikTok, 15 Nov. 2024, www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345. MLA 9 treats all social media platforms as containers, so the formatting is consistent whether you cite TikTok, Instagram, or X. Remove "https://" from the URL per MLA conventions. TikTok is an informal source — use it when the video content itself is the subject of analysis. CiteMe standardizes social media citations across all major styles with one click.
Quick answer: To cite a tiktok video in MLA (9th Edition), use this template: Author [@handle]. "Video description." TikTok, Day Month Year, URL.
Citation template
Full example
Reference / Bibliography
NASA [@nasa]. "Watch how astronauts wash their hair aboard the International Space Station." TikTok, 15 Nov. 2024, www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
In-text citation
(NASA)
Source breakdown
- author
- NASA [@nasa]
- title
- Watch how astronauts wash their hair aboard the International Space Station
- site
- TikTok
- year
- 15 Nov. 2024
- url
- www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345
Tips
- ✓Use the video's caption as the title, in quotation marks.
- ✓Italicize TikTok as the container title.
- ✓Use the video permalink — not the creator's profile page.
- ✓Use day-month-year date format with abbreviated months.
Common mistakes
- ⚠Using the creator's profile URL instead of the video URL.
- ⚠Not putting the caption in quotation marks.
- ⚠Forgetting to italicize the platform name.
- ⚠Using year-only date.
Before & after
Using creator profile URL instead of video URL
Wrong
NASA [@nasa]. "Watch how astronauts wash their hair." TikTok, 15 Nov. 2024, www.tiktok.com/@nasa.
Correct
NASA [@nasa]. "Watch how astronauts wash their hair." TikTok, 15 Nov. 2024, www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
Always link to the specific video, not the creator's profile. The profile URL does not identify which video you are citing.
Forgetting to italicize the platform name
Wrong
NASA [@nasa]. "Watch how astronauts wash their hair." TikTok, 15 Nov. 2024, www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
Correct
NASA [@nasa]. "Watch how astronauts wash their hair." TikTok, 15 Nov. 2024, www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
In MLA, the platform is the container and must be italicized. This applies to all social media platforms.
Not putting the caption in quotation marks
Wrong
NASA [@nasa]. Watch how astronauts wash their hair. TikTok, 15 Nov. 2024, www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
Correct
NASA [@nasa]. "Watch how astronauts wash their hair." TikTok, 15 Nov. 2024, www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
The video caption serves as the title and must be enclosed in quotation marks per MLA formatting rules.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the permalink for a TikTok video?
On the TikTok website, open the video and copy the URL from your browser. On mobile, tap "Share" and then "Copy Link."
What if the TikTok video has no caption?
Write a brief descriptive title in square brackets to identify the content (e.g., [Video of aurora borealis from ISS]).
Related resources
Other MLA guides
Learn more