Category: Accessible Social Media Tips

ACCESSIBLE SOCIAL MEDIA: How to Add/Edit Alt Text for Instagram Photos

Posted on by Mary Gillen

Instagram Logos

Instagram uses Automatic alt text object recognition technology to provide a visual description of photos for people with visual impairments. You can replace this text to provide a better description of a photo. Keep in mind that this description will only be read if someone is using a screen reader to access Instagram.

To see and edit alt text for a photo before you post it on Instagram:

  1. Start by taking a photo or uploading an existing photo to Instagram.
  2. Choose a filter and edit the image, then tap Next.
  3. Tap Advanced Settings at the bottom of the screen.
  4. Tap Write Alt Text.
  5. Write your alt text in the box and tap Done (iPhone) or Save (Android).

To change the alt text of a photo after you’ve already posted it on Instagram:

  1. Go to the photo and tap (iPhone) or(Android).
  2. Tap Edit.
  3. Tap Edit Alt Text in the bottom right.
  4. Write the alt text in the box and tap Done (iPhone) or (Android).

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WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY TESTING & REMEDIATION SERVICES: Mary Gillen is an experienced Website Accessibility Compliance Auditor and Remediator. She can test your website to determine if it meets accessibility standards:

WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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ACCESSIBLE SOCIAL MEDIA: 5 Tips for Content Creators

Posted on by Mary Gillen

Illustration of Content Creation Icons

1) CamelCase #HashTags

Capitalize the first letter of each word in hashtags so screen reader software can determine how to pronounce each word separately.

Fail: #socialmediatips
Pass: #SocialMediaTips

2) Twitter Links to Other Media Files

When you tweet a hyperlink to other media files, indicate whether the link leads to [AUDIO], [PIC], or [VIDEO]. This enables screen readers to announce the type of file that the user will discover when he/she clicks the link.

3) The Importance of Color Contrast in Your Social Media CTA Messages

Sufficient color contrast in your social media post call-to-action (CTA) messages helps users who are color blind, have low vision, or other visual issues to comprehend your CTA.

Colors used in the post must meet the WCAG 2.1 – 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast (Level AA) Guideline (text color against background color with a minimum color contrast of 4.5.1) so that folks with visual impairments can understand what to do.

Examples:

Color Contrast Social Media Message

Message #1 on the left (light green #6cbf7e) has a failing contrast ratio of 2.29:1.

Message #2 in the middle (darker green #469156) has a passing contrast ratio of 3.86:1.

Message #3 on the right (even darker green #487651) has a passing contrast ratio of 5.27:1.

Use the free online Accessible Colors Tool to evaluate your color combination using the WCAG 2.1 guidelines for contrast accessibility.

If your combination does not meet the guidelines, the tool suggests the closest accessible combination by modifying the colors.

4) Don’t use decorative fonts in social media posts

Screen readers can be silent when “reading” those words and only announce what is written in native fonts.

5) Avoid using animated GIFs without a text equivalent

Using animated GIFs to push your message out on social media? Be aware that individuals who use screen readers most likely won’t be able to understand the message displayed in the animation, as there is limited or no accessibility support for animated GIFs on most social media platforms. Be sure that the post also includes text content equivalent that conveys the animated GIF message as well.

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WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY TESTING & REMEDIATION SERVICES: Mary Gillen is an experienced Website Accessibility Compliance Auditor and Remediator. She can test your website to determine if it meets accessibility standards:

WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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ACCESSIBLE SOCIAL MEDIA: How to Share Audio on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook

Posted on by Mary Gillen

Five audio icons

Instagram, Facebook and YouTube all have video sharing functionality.

Reality

They don’t offer a quick and efficient way to share sound when you want to upload an audio file.

Question

How do you turn an audio track into a video?

Answer

Combine it with a static image file.

This type of “artwork video” technique has been around every since video on the web existed. But content writers and editors needed a quick and easy way to create this content.

Let me introduce you to Artwork.

This online app allows you to combine images and audio into videos. You can then download and share the files on your social media accounts.

Once you register and sign-up for a free trial, creating a video just takes seconds.

Take Artwork for a free spin right now.

[SOURCE]

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WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY TESTING & REMEDIATION SERVICES: Mary Gillen is an experienced Website Accessibility Compliance Auditor and Remediator. She can test your website to determine if it meets accessibility standards:

WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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SOCIAL MEDIA: Two Ways to Make Your Twitter Tweets More Accessible

Posted on by Mary Gillen

Twitter blue logo on wood background

1) Add Alt Tags to photos you include in your Tweets

When you Tweet photos using the Twitter app for iOS or Android, or on twitter.com, be sure to compose a description of each image you post so the content is accessible to people who are visually impaired.

Here’s how to enable the Compose image descriptions setting in Twitter:

a) Log in to your Twitter account.
b) Click on your profile icon and select Settings and privacy from the dropdown (or press the “g” key quickly, followed by the “s” key).
c) Click Accessibility from the list of settings.

Accessibility Setting Dialog Menu in Twitter
d) Find the Compose image descriptions checkbox.
e) Check the box to turn the setting on.
f) Click Save changes.

Once you add an image to your Tweet

a) Click the Add description option.
Twitter Post Window - Add a description

b) On the next screen you will have the opportunity to “Describe this photo for the visually impaired.”

Twitter Image block that allows entry of an ALT tag for a post image

NOTE: The image description is limited is 420 characters.

2) Make your links accessible

Including a hyperlink in your Tweet. You should indicate what type of file it leads to by adding [PIC], [VIDEO], [AUDIO] or [PDF] to the right of the link so screen reader users will know what they will find when they follow the link.

Sample Twitter Tweet depicting correct way to add accessible file link identifier

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WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY TESTING & REMEDIATION SERVICES: Mary Gillen is an experienced Website Accessibility Compliance Auditor and Remediator. She can test your website to determine if it meets accessibility standards:

WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

Find out more about Mary Gillen’s Accessibility Testing & Remediation Services: Websites, PDFs, Office Docs & Videos

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