Skip to Main Content

APA 7th Referencing

American Psychological Association, 7th edition

Social media, apps and AI format

Social Media

 Please check with your teacher whether social media are considered acceptable sources to cite or not.

Social media posts may contain audiovisual materials. 

References may include:

  • The text of a post up to the first 20 words where no title is given
  • A description of the audiovisuals in square brackets. e.g. [Image], [Infographic], [Thumbnail with link attached]
  • Hashtags and links
  • Emoji names in square brackets (if emoji cannot be reproduced). Full list of emojis with names.
  • If preferred, you can use a source like TinyURL shortener to produce a short URL. e.g. https://tinyurl.com/5akbuw4d

 

Reference elements

 

Screenshot of an annotated social medial reference

 

In-text citation

  Format Example
Paraphrase

(Author, Year)

OR

Author (Year)

... the impact of peer support in mental health (Hillier, 2024).

OR

Hillier (2024), SANE's peer support ambassador, recounts how peer support ... 
Quote

"..." (Author, Year)

OR

Author (Year) "..."

"... will help the next generation of nurses ..." (Holmesglen Institute, 2025).

OR

Holmesglen Institute (2025) shares it "... will help the next generation of nurses ...". 
Note:
  • Omit an account's [@handle] for the author's name. e.g. Melbourne Cricket Ground [@mcg] Instagram account should be cited as (Melbourne Cricket Ground, 2025).

 

Reference

 
Blog post
Format Example

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Post title. Blog Title. https://xxxxx

Hillier, T. (2024, October 24). Finding hope in community: The role of peer support in recovery. The SANE Blog. https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/the-sane-blog/wellbeing/the-role-of-peer-support-in-recovery
Note:
  • Provide the most exact date available.

 

Facebook post
Format Example

Account Name. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of post as title, including a URL, a hashtag, or an [emoji]  [Description of audiovisuals] [Post type]. Facebook. https://xxxxx

Melbourne Cricket Ground. (2025, January 23). This time next week, we'll be hosting the first Women's Test Match at the 'G in 75 years [Star-struck emoji]  [Image] [Status update]. Facebook. https://tinyurl.com/5akbuw4d
Note:
  • Account Name may be formatted as Author, A. A., Name of Group., Name of Group [Username]., or Username.
  • Provide the most exact date available.
  • Facebook stories or live streams are not retrievable or archived - they are to be treated as personal communications. 

 

Instagram content
  Format Example
Instagram photo or video / reel

Account Name [@handle]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of post as title, including a URL, a hashtag, or an [emoji] [Photograph or Video]. Instagram. https://xxxxx

Jones, S. [@sarahjonesfoxfooty]. (2025, January 19). Huge game coming up on @foxcricket @starsbbl win and they’re in the finals [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/sarahjonesfoxfooty/p/DE__2Wyybsr/?hl=en
Instagram highlight

Account Name [@handle]. (n.d.). Title [Highlight]. Instagram. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://xxxxx

Ralph Lauren. [@ralphlauren]. (n.d.). #AustralianOpen [Highlight]. Instagram. Retrieved January 30, 2025, from https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18083627707526114/
Note:
  • Account Name may be formatted as Author, A. A. [@username]. or Name of Group [@username].
  • Provide the most exact date available. If it is an Instagram highlight, always use (n.d.).
  • Instagram stories or live streams are not retrievable or archived - they are to be treated as personal communications. 
  • Above Instagram format also applies to X platform.

 

LinkedIn post
Format Example

Account Name. (Year, Month Day). Title [Description of audiovisuals] [Post type]. LinkedIn.
https://xxxxx

Holmesglen Institute. (2025, January). “This is not just a course. This will have real, tangible benefit for students and flow through to their careers.” [Photograph] [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/holmesglen_holmesglen-tafevictoria-learnmoredomore-activity-7285521214914080770-4a6i
Note:
  • Account Name may be formatted as Author, A. A., Name of Group., Name of Group [Username]., or Username.
  • Year, Month Day: LinkedIn posts specify how long ago the post was made (e.g. 1w means 1 week ago) rather than an exact date of upload. Use this information to infer as specific a date as possible for the reference.
  • Title is the text of a post up to the first 20 words where no specific title is given.

 

Online forum (e.g. Reddit)
  Format Example
Forum post

Account Name. (Year, Month Day). Title [Online forum post]. Name of Website. https://xxxxx

KronkGetsIt. (2025, January). Dear recruiters, have you ever seen any ‘hobbies’ that caught your eye on a CV? [Online forum post]. Reddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/auscorp/comments/1id5vin/dear_recruiters_have_you_ever_seen_any_hobbies/
Forum post reply / comment

Account Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of comment [Comment on the online forum post Name of post]. Name of website.
https://xxxxx

decaf_flat_white. (2025, January). Some hobbies are highly correlated with certain industries and personality types so they can give a tiny signal [Comment on the online forum post Dear recruiters, have you ever seen any ‘hobbies’ that caught your eye on a CV?]. Reddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/auscorp/comments/1id5vin/dear_recruiters_have_you_ever_seen_any_hobbies/
Note:
  • Account Name may be formatted as Author, A. A., Name of Group., Name of Group [Username]., or Username.
  • Year, Month Day: Online forum posts and replies often specify how long ago the post was made (e.g. 1w means 1 week ago) rather than an exact date of upload. Use this information to infer as specific a date as possible for the reference.
  • Title is the text of a post up to the first 20 words where no specific title is given.

Apps, games (including computer software)

Well known or common (e.g. Microsoft Office,) does not need to be referenced, but the proper name of the software or app and the version number needs to be provided in the text.

Provide in-text citations and reference list entries for software or apps of limited distribution, or if your audience is likely to be unfamiliar with it.

Games produced by teachers/students should be treated in the same way as as personal communications. As they cannot be retrieved by the reader of your assignment, they are not included in the reference list, but as an in-text citation only.

 

Reference elements


Screenshot of an annotated mobile app reference

In-text citation

Format Example

(Author, Year)

OR

Author (Year)

... according to the (Australian Bureau of Meteorology [BOM], 2020).

OR

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology [BOM] (2020) highlights temperature changes ...
Note:

  • Because the Australian Bureau of Meterorology is known in its abbreviated form, the 2nd citation onwards should be shortened to BOM (2020) or (BOM, 2020). See: in-text citation formats for more information.

 

Reference

Type Format Example

App/Computer software

Author, A. A. (Year last updated).Name of software or app (Version number) [Mobile app or Computer software]. Publisher. https://xxxxx

Australian Bureau of Meteorology. (2020). BOM weather (Version 3.5.0) [Mobile application]. https://www.bom.gov.au/app

Xero. (2019). Xero practice manager [Computer software]. https://www.xero.com/nz/features-and-tools/practice-tools/practicemanager/

Games

Author/Developer A. A. (Year last updated).Title [Platform]. Publisher. https://xxxxx

Fox, T. (2015). Undertale [Steam]. https://store.steampowered.com/app/391540/Undertale/

Vollmer, A., & Wohlwend, G. (2014). Threes [Mobile iOS]. Sirvo. http://play.threesgame.com/
Note:
  • If the publisher is the same as the author, it may be omitted.

AI tools (including ChatGPT)

AI includes artificial intelligence technologies that can create content, provide advice/ideas or problem solve. It is important to be aware of the limitations and ethical use of these tools – speak to your teacher, learning skills teacher or librarian for more information.

AI tools are to be treated as software and are cited both in-text and in the reference list.
 

 Only use AI as permitted and in the prescribed manner outlined in your assessment outline. 
You MUST seek permission from your teacher before using any AI tool as part of an assessment. Follow ALL other submission requirements (declaration statement, retain proof of interaction etc.) and ensure you correctly reference it.
 

Reference elements


Screenshot of an annotated artificial intelligence tool reference
 

In-text citation

 

Format

 Example

AI
generated
text and information

(AI Creator, Year)

OR

(AI Creator, Year; see Appendix x for the full transcript)

... is defined by this concept (OpenAI, 2023).

OR

... environmental factors (OpenAI, 2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript).

AI
generated images

Caption 

 

[AI image]

 

Image description (AI Creator, Year)

Caption

AI image of teddy bear

Rainbow teddy with rose reading book in the Library (OpenAI, 2022)
Note:
  • No page number(s) required when quoting AI.
  • If required to provide evidence of prompts used or full transcript, you can note this as part of your in-text citation (once per each AI output). Use the phrase see Appendix x for the full transcript after the year and separated by a semicolon. E.g. (Singtel Optus, 2023; see Appendix B for the full transcript).

 

Reference

Format Example

AI Creator. (Year). AI name (Month Day version or Version x.x) [Description]. https://xxxxxx

OpenAI. (2022). DALL-E (Version 2) [Multimodal large visual model]. https://labs.openai.com

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (May 24 version) [Multimodal large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Singtel Optus. (2023). Optus assistant [Chatbot]. https://www.optus.com.au/
Note:
  • Year is AI's version year of creation.
  • Version number is included if available and formatted according to software's numbering system (e.g. May 24 version, Version 2, Version 3.4 etc.).
  • Description is software type/model such as [Multimodal large language model], [Large language model], [Multimodal large visual model], [Chatbot] etc. If unsure, use the description [Artificial intelligence tool].
  • URL is tool landing page.