How to Cite Facebook in MLA 9 Format

Citing Facebook in MLA 9, what you are actually citing

In MLA 9th edition, you cite the specific item you used on Facebook, not “Facebook” in general. That item might be a post, a photo, a video, a comment, an event page, or a group page. Facebook is the container that hosts the content, so it usually appears as the website name in the citation.

A good MLA Works Cited entry helps a reader answer three practical questions.

1. Who created it.
2. What exactly is it.
3. Where and when can I find it again.

Facebook content can change, be deleted, or be hard to locate later, so MLA citations for social media rely heavily on clear titles or descriptions, dates, and stable links.

Core MLA 9 format for a Facebook post

Use this pattern for most Facebook posts (status updates, shared text, and many photo or video posts).

Works Cited pattern
Author. “Title of Post or Description.” Facebook, Day Month Year, URL.

How each part works

• Author: The person or organization that posted it. In MLA, the author is the account responsible for the content you are citing.
• “Title of Post or Description”: Many Facebook posts have no formal title. In that case, you create a brief description and put it in quotation marks. Keep it short and specific.
• Facebook: Italicize the platform name because it is the container.
• Date: Use the date shown on the post. MLA prefers Day Month Year, for example, 14 Mar. 2024.
• URL: Use a direct link to the post when possible.

Author name rules you must follow (based on your requirements)

These rules control how the citation begins, which matters because the first element determines alphabetizing in Works Cited.

One author

• Use the author’s full first name, not initials.
• Invert the first author’s name: Last, First Middle.

Example name formatting:
- Correct: Nguyen, Taylor James.
- Incorrect: Nguyen, T. J.
- Incorrect: Taylor Nguyen (not inverted, so it will not sort correctly)

Two authors

• First author is inverted, second author is normal order.
• Use and between names.

Format: Last, First Middle, and First Last.

Three or more authors

• List only the first author (inverted, full first name).
• Add et al. after the first author only.

Format: Last, First Middle, et al.

No author

• Start with the title or description in quotation marks.
• Do not use “Anonymous” and do not use “n.d.”
• For alphabetizing, ignore A, An, or The at the start of the title.

What to use as the “title” when Facebook has no title

Most Facebook posts do not have a title. MLA allows you to supply one.

Use one of these approaches.

• Use the first few words of the post if they clearly identify it.
• Write a short description if the post is long, or if it is only an image or video.

Keep your description factual, not evaluative. Good descriptions include the format and topic.

Examples of strong descriptions:
- “Post about campus recycling policy”
- “Photo of flooded street near Main Avenue”
- “Video announcing spring concert lineup”

2 to 3 complete Works Cited examples, with explanations

Example 1, one author, standard Facebook post

Works Cited entry
Lopez, Mariana Isabel. “Reminder, the scholarship deadline is Friday at 5 p.m. Please submit your forms through the portal.” Facebook, 12 Oct. 2024, https://www.facebook.com/username/posts/1234567890.

Why this is formatted correctly

• Author name is full and inverted, “Lopez, Mariana Isabel.”
• The post has no formal title, so the citation uses the opening words of the post in quotation marks.
• Facebook is italicized as the website container.
• The date is in MLA style, 12 Oct. 2024.
• The URL points to the specific post, which helps readers locate the exact item.

Practical tip

If the post text is very long, you can shorten the quoted title to the first sentence or a distinctive phrase. Do not rewrite the meaning.

Example 2, two authors, a Facebook video post

Works Cited entry
Harris, Jordan Michael, and Elena Ruiz. “Video tour of the new community garden beds behind the library.” Facebook, 3 Apr. 2023, https://www.facebook.com/username/videos/9876543210.

Why this is formatted correctly

• Two authors are listed because both are credited for the post.
• The first author is inverted, Harris, Jordan Michael.
• The second author is not inverted, Elena Ruiz.
• The word and joins the names, as MLA prefers.
• The title is a description because videos often do not have a clear title.
• The entry still treats Facebook as the container.

Common pitfall to avoid

Do not invert the second author.
Incorrect: Harris, Jordan Michael, and Ruiz, Elena.
MLA uses normal order for the second author in a two author entry.

Example 3, no author listed, citing a post from a page where the author is unclear

Sometimes a post appears in a way that does not clearly show a personal name, or it is reposted and the author cannot be confidently identified. In that case, follow the “no author” rule.

Works Cited entry
“Road closure update for Pine Street due to water main repairs.” Facebook, 18 Jan. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/username/posts/2468101214.

Why this is formatted correctly

• The citation starts with the title or description because there is no reliable author to name.
• It does not use “Anonymous” and does not use “n.d.”
• The description is specific enough that a reader can tell what the post is about.
• The rest of the elements still appear in MLA order.

Practical tip

If the post is from an official organization page and the organization name is clearly shown, you can usually treat that organization as the author. Use the name exactly as it appears, and still apply the inverted name rule only if it is a personal name. If it is an organization, MLA typically keeps it in normal order because it is not a personal name.

Why these rules matter in MLA 9

They make your Works Cited list easy to scan and alphabetize

MLA is designed so readers can quickly find sources. Inverting the first author’s name, and using the title when there is no author, ensures your entries sort predictably.

They help readers verify what you used

Facebook content is not as stable as a book or journal article. A complete citation with an exact link and date gives the reader the best chance of finding the same post.

They show respect for authorship and identity

Using full first names, when available, reduces ambiguity. It helps distinguish between people with similar surnames and avoids hiding identity behind initials.

Practical tips for citing Facebook accurately

Use the most direct URL you can

• Prefer a permalink to the post.
• If the link is extremely long, use it anyway if it is the only way to reach the post.

Capture the date carefully

• Use the date displayed on Facebook.
• If you only have a relative time stamp like “2 hrs,” open the post and look for the full date.

Describe non text posts clearly

For photos, videos, and shared graphics, a description is often better than quoting random text.

Good: “Photo of the protest sign display outside City Hall.”
Less helpful: “Photo.”

Keep punctuation consistent

MLA relies on punctuation to separate elements. Use:
- Period after the author.
- Quotation marks around the post title or description.
- Commas before the date and before the URL.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Using initials for first names when the full name is available. Your requirement is full first names.
• Inverting the second author in a two author citation.
• Listing all authors when there are three or more. Use the first author plus et al.
• Starting with “Anonymous” or using n.d. when author or date is missing.
• Citing the Facebook homepage instead of the specific post.
• Forgetting quotation marks around a post title or description.

Quick checklist before you finalize a Facebook citation

• Did you identify the author, and use the full first name?
• Is the first author inverted, and are additional authors formatted correctly?
• Did you provide a clear title or description in quotation marks?
• Did you italicize Facebook?
• Did you include the post date in Day Month Year format?
• Did you include a direct URL to the post?

If you tell me what type of Facebook content you are citing, for example a post, a photo, a comment, or a group page, and whether there is one author or multiple, I can format the exact MLA 9 Works Cited entry using your rules.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Common Errors for Facebook Citations

Validation Checklist

Special Cases

Special cases and edge cases when citing Facebook in MLA 9

Citing Facebook can be tricky because posts change, accounts may not show a clear author name, and URLs can be long or unstable. MLA 9 is flexible, but it still expects you to identify who made the post, what the post is, where it appears, and how to find it again. The special cases below focus on the situations that most often cause confusion, and how to handle them while keeping your Works Cited entries consistent and easy to verify.

Core MLA 9 pattern for a Facebook post

A common MLA 9 Works Cited entry for a Facebook post looks like this:

Author. "Text of Post." Facebook, Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

The “Text of Post” is usually the first sentence or a short description of the post, placed in quotation marks. MLA allows you to shorten long post text, but keep enough to identify the post clearly.

Why these rules matter for Facebook citations

Facebook content is often:

• Hard to retrieve later, due to edits, deletions, privacy settings, or account changes.
• Ambiguous about authorship, because pages, groups, and shared content can hide the original creator.
• Time sensitive, because posts are organized by date and time, and the date is often the best locator.

That is why MLA 9 emphasizes clear author identification, accurate dates, and stable locating information like a permalink and an access date when needed. Your instructor and your readers need to be able to confirm exactly what you used.

Author name edge cases

Personal profile names, display names, and real names

Facebook often shows a display name, which may be a nickname, a mononym, or stylized text. In MLA, you cite the name as it appears on the account, but your rule set also requires full first names rather than initials. When the account itself uses an initial, you cannot reliably expand it unless the person clearly provides the full name on the profile. If the full first name is not available, treat it like an uncertain author and consider starting with the title of the post instead.

Practical tip: If the profile clearly lists the full name in the “About” section and the post is public, use that full name. If you cannot confirm it, do not guess.

Organization pages as authors

Many Facebook posts are authored by organizations, such as “World Health Organization.” Use the organization name as the author. MLA treats a group author like a person for the first element of the entry.

Common pitfall: Do not add “Admin,” “Moderator,” or staff names unless the post itself clearly attributes an individual author.

Two authors and three or more authors

Most Facebook posts have one author, but collaborative posts can happen, especially with cross-posted announcements or co-authored statements.

• Two authors: Invert the first author only, then use and plus the second author in normal order.
• Three or more authors: Use the first author only, inverted, then et al.

This matters because MLA formatting is designed for consistent alphabetizing and quick scanning in the Works Cited list.

No author and unclear author situations

When the author is missing or not meaningful

Sometimes a post is embedded on another site without showing the account name, or a screenshot circulates without a visible author. If you truly have no author, MLA says to start with the title. For a Facebook post, that title is usually the post text in quotation marks, or a brief descriptive title you create in quotation marks.

Do not use “Anonymous” or “n.d.” If the date is missing, omit it and rely on other identifying details, then include an access date.

Practical tip: If you are working from a screenshot, try to locate the original post URL. A screenshot alone is often not verifiable.

Dates, edited posts, and missing dates

What date to use

Use the date of the post as displayed on Facebook. MLA does not require the time of day, but if the time is important for distinguishing versions or multiple posts on the same day, you can include it in your notes, not usually in the Works Cited entry.

Edited posts

Facebook may show “Edited” without showing the original date. MLA does not require you to label a post as edited in the Works Cited entry, but you should capture the version you used.

Practical tip: If the post is likely to change and it matters to your argument, include an access date and consider saving a PDF or screenshot for your research records.

Missing dates

If no date is visible, omit the date element. Then include an access date, since the post is harder to track.

URLs, permalinks, and access dates

Long URLs and tracking parameters

Facebook links often include tracking parameters. MLA allows you to shorten URLs by removing unnecessary tracking strings, as long as the link still works.

Common pitfall: Copying the URL from the browser bar can produce a login-specific or session-specific link. Instead, use the post’s timestamp link, or the “Copy link” option, to get a permalink.

When to include “Accessed”

MLA 9 recommends including an access date when a source is likely to change or be removed, which is common for social media. If your instructor requires access dates for all online sources, follow that instruction.

Shares, reposts, and quoting the original versus the sharer

Shared posts

If a person shares someone else’s post, you need to decide what you are citing:

• If you are discussing the commentary added by the sharer, cite the sharer’s post.
• If you are discussing the original content, cite the original creator’s post if you can access it.

Practical tip: If the original post is not accessible, cite the shared version you can actually retrieve, and make clear in your writing that it is a shared post.

Group posts and privacy limitations

Posts in private groups

Private group posts may not be accessible to your readers. MLA does not forbid citing them, but you should consider whether your instructor allows sources that cannot be verified. If you cite a private post, include as much identifying information as possible, and use an access date.

Common pitfall: Using private group content as a key piece of evidence without explaining access limitations.

Multimedia posts, images, and videos on Facebook

Photos and videos as the main content

If the post is primarily a photo or video, the “title” element can be:

• The caption text, in quotation marks, if it is meaningful.
• A brief description you create, in quotation marks, if there is no caption, such as “Video of campus protest” or “Photo of product launch display.”

You still list Facebook as the container, then the date, then the URL.

Example 1, standard public post by an individual

Works Cited entry

Nguyen, Linh. "Proud to announce our community garden is officially open to volunteers this weekend." Facebook, 14 Apr. 2024, https://www.facebook.com/username/posts/1234567890. Accessed 2 May 2024.

Why this is correct

• Author: Full name is used, and the first author is inverted, “Nguyen, Linh.”
• Title: The post text is in quotation marks. It is short enough to identify the post.
• Container: Facebook is italicized.
• Date: Uses MLA day month year format.
• URL: Uses a permalink style URL.
• Accessed date: Included because posts can be edited or removed.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Do not italicize the post text.
• Do not list the author as “L. Nguyen.” Use full first name.
• Do not omit the date if it is available.

Example 2, two authors on a joint statement

Works Cited entry

Rivera, Carmen Lucia, and Jordan Matthews. "We are committing to a new schedule for monthly neighborhood cleanups starting in June." Facebook, 28 May 2023, https://www.facebook.com/username/posts/0987654321. Accessed 10 June 2023.

Why this is correct

• Two authors: The first name is inverted, “Rivera, Carmen Lucia,” and the second is normal order, “Jordan Matthews,” joined with and.
• Title and container: Post text in quotes, Facebook italicized.
• Access date: Helpful for social media.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Do not invert the second author.
• Do not use an ampersand, use “and.”
• Do not list both authors if there are more than two, follow the et al. rule for three or more.

Example 3, no author visible, start with the post title

Works Cited entry

"City offices will be closed Monday due to severe weather conditions. Please avoid nonessential travel." Facebook, 15 Jan. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/somepage/posts/1122334455. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.

Why this is correct

• No author: The entry begins with the title, which is the post text in quotation marks. This follows MLA guidance when no author is available.
• Alphabetizing: In your Works Cited list, alphabetize by the first significant word in the title, ignoring A, An, or The.
• Verification: The URL and access date help readers locate the exact post.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Do not write “Anonymous.”
• Do not write “n.d.” if the date is missing. If there were no date, you would omit it and rely on an access date.

Practical tips checklist

• Use the post permalink, not a feed URL.
• Prefer the post date shown on Facebook, then add Accessed if the content may change.
• If the author name is unclear, do not guess. Start with the title if necessary.
• For captions that are too long, quote the first sentence or a distinctive phrase.
• If you cite content from a private group, consider whether your audience can verify it, and explain limitations in your writing.

Quick reminder on common pitfalls

• Using initials instead of full first names.
• Inverting all author names instead of only the first.
• Listing all authors for three or more authors instead of using et al.
• Treating a share as the original post without checking authorship.
• Forgetting that Facebook posts can change, and leaving out an access date when it would help.

If you want, I can also provide MLA 9 in-text citation examples for each of these Facebook edge cases, including how to handle a missing author in parenthetical citations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a Facebook post in MLA 9?

To cite a Facebook post in MLA 9, treat the post like a work on a social media platform. Start with the author as it appears on Facebook, which can be a real name, a group name, or an organization. Put the post text in quotation marks, you can shorten it if it is long, then italicize Facebook. Include the date and time of the post if available, followed by the URL. Example scenario, you quote a public post from an organization about a policy update. Your Works Cited entry might look like: Author or Page Name. “First words of the post …” Facebook, Day Mon. Year, Time, URL. In text, cite the author or page name. For additional guidance, see the MLA style page on digital sources: https://style.mla.org/category/citing-sources/.

What if the Facebook post has no real author name, only a username or a page name?

If a post is published by a page, group, or account that does not clearly list an individual author, use the name of the page or account as the author element. This is common for brands, news outlets, and campus organizations. If the page name includes unusual capitalization or punctuation, reproduce it as shown. Practical scenario, you cite a post from a local health department page that shares clinic hours. In Works Cited, begin with the page name, then the post text in quotation marks, then Facebook in italics, the date and time, and the URL. If there is both a display name and a handle, MLA generally prioritizes the name shown to readers. For more examples, consult MLA’s guidance on authors and containers: https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/.

How do I cite a Facebook comment or a reply to a post in MLA?

To cite a Facebook comment, identify the commenter as the author, then quote or describe the comment in quotation marks. After that, include a description of what it is, such as Comment on, followed by the original post author or page and a short version of the post text, then italicize Facebook, and give the comment date and time plus the URL to the thread if possible. Scenario, you use a public comment from a city official responding to a resident’s question. Your entry should make clear it is a comment, not the main post. If you cannot link directly to the specific comment, link to the post where the comment appears and include enough detail for retrieval. More help on citing social media is available here: https://style.mla.org/citing-social-media/.

Do I need to include the full text of a Facebook post, and how do I shorten it?

You do not need to reproduce the entire post in your Works Cited entry. MLA allows you to use the first part of the post as the title element, in quotation marks. If the post is long, use the first few words and end with an ellipsis, but keep enough wording to identify the post. Scenario, you cite a long statement from a university Facebook page about a campus closure. You might use the first sentence fragment as the title and omit the rest. If the post begins with a link preview or only an image, you can use a brief description in place of the text, such as “Photo of event flyer” or “Video of press conference.” For general MLA guidance on titles and truncation, see: https://style.mla.org/titles-works-cited/.

How do I cite a Facebook video or Facebook Live stream in MLA 9?

For a Facebook video, cite the account that posted it as the author, then give the video title in quotation marks. If there is no title, use a short description like “Facebook Live stream of town hall meeting.” Italicize Facebook as the platform, then include the posting date and time if available, and the URL. Scenario, you analyze a candidate’s live streamed speech posted on their official page. Your Works Cited entry should clarify the format by adding “Video” at the end if helpful, although MLA often treats the platform as the container. In text, cite the author or page name. If you need to reference a specific moment, include a time range in your prose, since Facebook videos may not have stable timestamps. More examples: https://style.mla.org/citing-videos/.

Should I cite Facebook differently if the post is private, deleted, or I only saw it in a screenshot?

If a Facebook post is private, deleted, or only available to you, you may not be able to provide a retrievable URL. In MLA, you can still cite it, but you should be transparent about what you used. Scenario, you reference a screenshot of a post shared in a class group that is not publicly accessible. Cite the author, a short quotation or description of the post, Facebook in italics, the date and time if known, then describe the access method, such as “Screenshot” or “Private group post,” and list the date you accessed it if relevant. If the content is truly personal communication, consider citing it in the text only rather than in Works Cited. For related guidance, see MLA’s notes on unpublished or nonretrievable sources: https://style.mla.org/citing-unpublished-material/.

Last Updated: 2026-01-01
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