Social media content published on behalf of Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) must be accessible to all users. Federal digital accessibility standards require public colleges to ensure the content they share online, including social media posts, can be used by people with disabilities.
GRCC is not responsible for accessibility of social media platforms themselves, but we are responsible for the accessibility of the content we post. When creating social media content, there are three primary accessibility considerations to keep in mind.
- Alt Text: Images must include alternative text (alt text) so people who are blind or have low vision can access the same information conveyed visually. The steps for adding alt text and captions vary by platform.
- Captions: Videos must include captions so people who are Deaf or hard of hearing can access spoken content.
- Check auto-generated content: Always check auto-generated captions or alt text for accuracy.
- Camel Case: Use Camel Case when writing websites or hashtags. (Example: grcc.edu/SocialMedia)
- Contrast: Color contrast must meet accessibility standards to text and visuals are readable for users with low vision or color blindness.
See All Social Media Guidelines
Platform-Specific Guidance
- Edit the alternative text for a photo on Facebook.
- Add or remove captions to a video on Facebook.
- Add captions to a video on your page.
TikTok
- TikTok accessibility tools include options for adding alt text to photos and editing or creating captions.
- Videos are auto-captioned, but captions should be reviewed for accuracy.
- TikTok also includes a photosensitive warning feature for videos that may trigger visual sensitivity.