Graphics & Color Contrast
When designing graphics, aim for balanced color contrast and visibility. Social media graphics should always have balanced color contrast where text is easy to read.
- Keep text legibility and color contrast a top priority.
- Avoid placing text over busy backgrounds.
- Lighter-colored fonts contrast best against dark backgrounds.
- Darker colored fonts will contrast best against bright backgrounds.
- Certain shades of colors are difficult for some people to view. Use WebAIM's Color Contrast Checker Tool to check your color contrast.
Alternative Text
Alternative text (alt text) is a helpful text description provided for images, photos and other non-text content. Alt text is crucial because it helps describe images to low-vision or visually impaired users using assistive technologies such as screen readers and/or voiceover software.
- Effective alt text provides a meaningful and useful description of an image.
- Alt text provides additional context to an image.
- Keep alt text concise while providing enough information to communicate the image's meaning and purpose. Include relevant details and avoid unnecessary visual description or information already provided in the surrounding text.
- When images contain text, the alt text should include the same information as what's written inside the graphic.
- For events, include date, time, location and a description of the event.
Fonts
When designing content, choose fonts that are legible and easy for your audience to read. Use sans-serif fonts, which are easiest to read. Avoid overly decorative and/or cursive fonts, as these fonts are often difficult to read.
- Use appropriate and adequate sizing.
- Keep font sizes proportionate and consistent.
- Viewers should be able to read the text comfortably.
- Avoid using special Unicode fonts (special keyboard symbols) in your profile username, as screen readers read these characters aloud as mathematical formulas and can confuse users.
- Avoid spelling things through the use of emojis.
Video Captioning
When producing video content, a best practice is to provide captions. Captions greatly help users with auditory disabilities engage with your content. Closed captions are also useful for users without disabilities who may be trying to watch your video in a noisy environment.
- Captions make your videos more accessible.
- Videos should be understood with the sound off.
Accessibility Summary
In short, keep the following best practices in mind when producing content to share.
- Captions and image descriptions must contain the same information as posted images.
- High contrast between background colors and foreground text.
- Use sans-serif fonts; avoid cursive fonts.
- Text must be large enough to read comfortably at arm’s length on a mobile device.
- Add alt-text to photos.
- Caption your videos.
Accessibility on Social Media
Each social media platform provides step-by-step information to keep posts accessible.
Updated: September 10, 2026