Overview of accessibility features in social media
Accessibility features, in this instance, is defined as the ability to add alt attributes to an image, or (in YouTube only) captions and audio descriptions.
| YouTube | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop | Pass | N/A | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass / Fail |
| iOS | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass | Pass | Fail |
| Android | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass | Pass | Fail |
Accessibility features – desktop
- Add image
- Select “Edit”
- Add alt text in “Alternative text” field
Instagram – cannot add images on desktop
- Add picture to your post
- Select “Add alt text” button
- Write alt text
- Add image
- The “Description” field is the alt attribute
Option 1
- Go to “More” in left hand navigation
- Select “Settings and privacy”
- Select “Accessibility” under “General”
- Select “Compose image descriptions”
Then
- Add image
- Select “Add Description”
- Add alt text to the “Description” field
Option 2
- Add the image
- Select the “Edit” button in the top right of the image
- Select the “ALT” tab at the top of the popup
- Add alt text to the “Description” field
YouTube – unable to add audio descriptions
Existing captions
- Upload video
- Select Edit video button under the video
- Select the “Advanced” tab
- Select the video language
- Select “Upload Subtitles / CC”
- Choose either “With timing” or “Without timing”
- Select captions file
- Save (processing may take several hours)
Auto-captioning
- Select the button “English by YouTube (automatic)”
- Select “Download”
- Open in a suitable app (or Notepad) and edit as required
- Select “Upload Subtitles / CC”
- Select “With timing”
- Select the captions file for upload
- Select the button with “English by YouTube (automatic)”
- Select Delete
Accessibility features – iOS
- Post image
- Tap on posted image
- Select horizontal ellipsis in the top right
- Select “Edit alt text”
- Tap “Override generated alt text”
- Add alt text
Instagram – this alt text does not get transferred to Facebook and automated alt text is used instead
- Select image to post
- On the New Post page, select “Advanced Settings” (under all the other fields in small writing and grey text)
- Select “Write alt text”
- Write alt text
LinkedIn – unable to add alt attributes
- Add pin
- The Description field is the alt attribute
- Add image
- Select the “+ALT” button in the bottom-right of the image
- Select “Sure”
- Add alt text in the “Describe this photo…” field
YouTube – unable to add captions or audio descriptions
Accessibility features – Android
- Post image
- Tap on posted image
- Select horizontal ellipsis in the top right
- Select “Edit alt text”
- Add alt text in the “Write photo alternative text…” field
Instagram – this alt text does not get transferred to Facebook and automated alt text is used instead
- Select image to post
- On the “New Post” page, select “Advanced Settings” (under all the other fields in small writing and grey text)
- Select “Write alt text”
- Write alt text
LinkedIn – unable to add alt attributes
- Add pin
- The Description field is the alt attribute
- Add image
- Select the “+ALT” button in the bottom-right of the image
- Select “Sure”
- Add alt text in the “Describe this photo…” field
YouTube – unable to add captions or audio descriptions
Want to learn more?
Read more on social media:
- Social Media Accessibility: Turning Off Autoplay (2020)
- Social media screen reader accessibility compliance testing
- Social media and alternative text by a blind person