Social Media Accessibility Terrill Thompson Technology Accessibility Specialist

The UW Boundless Footer

Accessibility Goals for Content Authors • Should be able to add alt text to images • Should be able to add captions to videos

Facebook: Overview • Accessibility of interface is fairly good for screen reader users (e. g. , ARIA landmarks, headings) • Actively working on automatic alt text (e. g. , “Image may contain: Nina Thompson, Terrill Thompson and Zoe Thompson, people smiling, hat”)

Facebook: Adding Alt Text to Images 1. After adding an image, click on the image. 2. Select “Options” from the menu at the bottom of the image. 3. Select “Change alt text” (Note: This is only an option via the website; not the mobile app)

Facebook: Adding Captions to Videos 1. Navigate to Your Videos. 2. Hover a video to reveal the “Edit” icon. 3. Click the icon, then select “Edit this video. ” 4. In the Edit video form, looks for “Captions”, then follow the prompts to upload an SRT file.

Twitter: Overview • Twitter itself is fairly accessible (lists of tweets are tagged as unordered lists, so can be easily navigated with screen readers) • Twitter’s API has resulted in even better accessibility within third party clients, e. g. , easychirp. com • When embedded into web pages, this can become a keyboard trap. Limit number of tweets (Terrill suggests no more than 5)

Twitter: Adding Alt Text to Images • First, must enable “Compose image descriptions” within your Accessibility preferences. • Then, when you add an image, you will be prompted to “Add description”.

Twitter: Adding Captions to Videos “There are several ways to attach SRT files to your Twitter videos – through an API, Twitter Media Studio or Twitter Ads. ” - 3 Play. Media

Instagram: Overview • Just a bunch of images • Actively working on automatic alt text, probably using the same technology as Facebook (e. g. , “Image may contain: 2 people, text”)

Instagram: Adding/Editing Alt Text 1. Post a photo 2. At the bottom of the New Post form, select “Advanced Settings” 3. Select “Write Alt Text”

Instagram: Adding Captions to Videos • Captions are not currently supported. • Video should be open captioned (i. e. , captions burned into the video)

You. Tube: Overview • You. Tube player controls are fairly accessible • Autoplay is on by default (huge problem for screen reader users) but can be disabled via the Preferences button on the player. • Users have a lot of control over display of captions (e. g. , font color, size, transparency) • All videos are auto-captioned by default (but these must be edited) • No support for audio description

You. Tube: Adding/editing Captions 1. Go to You. Tube Studio. 2. Click on Videos in the menu. 3. Select a video. 4. Select Other Features, then Translation & Transcription. 5. Use the You. Tube caption editor.

Linked. In: Overview • Accessibility of interface is fairly good for screen reader users (e. g. , ARIA landmarks, headings)

Linked. In: Adding Alt Text to Images 1. Upload a photo 2. Click “Add Alt Text” in the Edit Photo dialog 3. Follow the prompts (enforced limit of 120 characters)

Linked. In: Adding Captions to Videos • Linked. In Help claims they support captions on videos by attaching an SRT file. However, this feature is either broken or extremely unintuitive.

Pinterest: Overview • There is no official documentation on accessibility from Pinterest • The Internet is filled with advice on how to use alt text to “make your website images more Pinterest friendly” (BAD advice) • The Internet is also filled with well-intending, but probably confusing, opposing advice

For links & additional information • http: //uw. edu/accessibility/social