What if the Instagram post has no caption?

Write a brief description in square brackets (e.g., [Photograph of the Pillars of Creation]) and use it as the title.

Can I cite a private Instagram post?

Only cite publicly accessible posts so readers can verify your source. If a post requires an account to view, note this limitation in your citation.

Template + Example

Chicago Instagram Post Citation Template

Learn how to cite Instagram photos and videos in Chicago 17th edition. Includes bibliography and footnote format with real examples.

Copy-ready template

Author Name (@handle). "Caption." Instagram, Month Day, Year. URL.

Filled example

Reference

NASA (@nasa). "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail from the James Webb Space Telescope." Instagram, November 15, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.

In-text citation

(NASA 2024)

Field mapping

author: NASA (@nasa)
title: The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail from the James Webb Space Telescope
site: Instagram
year: November 15, 2024
url: https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/

Common mistakes

⚠Linking to the profile instead of the individual post.
⚠Abbreviating the month name.
⚠Forgetting the period at the end of the citation.
⚠Omitting the handle from the author entry.

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Open the complete guide for formatting rules, before/after examples, and detailed FAQ.

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