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Cite web and social media in Chicago

Learn how to cite websites and social media in Chicago Note 18 style. Use correct templates for blogs, posts, and pages from Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and more to reference sources accurately in your writing.

Footnotes

  • Content from websites and webpages can usually be cited in text or in a note, rather than in a bibliography.
  • In the footnote, present the page title or description in double quotation marks (“ “), using title case (major words are capitalised and minor words are lower case).
  • Include the title or description of the site followed by the author or owner and URL. Each element is separated by a comma.
  • Include a publication date or most recent update/revision date. If there is no publication or revision date listed include an accessed date.
  • For frequently updated resources (e.g. Wikipedia) a timestamp may be included.
Citation format Example
Template # “Webpage title,” Website name, Author, Month Day, Year, URL.  
Full note 1 “Yayoi Kusama,” National Gallery of Victoria, Accessed June 12, 2025, https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/yayoi-kusama/  
Subsequent note 3 NGV, “Yayoi Kusama.”  

Bibliography

In the bibliography, the source elements are separated by a full stop rather than a comma. 

Reference format Example
Template Website name. “Webpage title.”   Month Day, Year. URL.
Bibliography entry

National Gallery of Victoria. “Yayoi Kusama.” Accessed June 12, 2025. https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/yayoi-kusama/  

Footnotes

  • If a website has a named author (e.g. an artist or performers website) place the author’s name before the title of the webpage. If you are unsure whether the resource is a blog or website, cite as a website.
  • In the footnote, present the author’s name as first name(s), last name. Enclose the full title of the blog post in double quotation marks, including any subtitle separated by a colon. Capitalise in title style.
Citation format Example
Template # First Name Last Name, “Webpage Title,” Website name, Month Day, Year, URL.   
Full note 2 Jill Orr, “Southern Cross Reclaimed,” Jill Orr, exhibition end date March 3, 2022, https://jillorr.com.au/e/southern-cross-reclaimed.
Subsequent note 3 Orr, “Southern Cross Reclaimed.”  

Bibliography

In the bibliography, the source elements are separated by a full stop rather than a comma. 

Reference format Example
Template Last name, First Name. “Post Title.” Website name. Month Day, Year, URL  
Bibliography entry

Orr, Jill. “Southern Cross Reclaimed.” Jill Orr. March 3, 2022, https://jillorr.com.au/e/southern-cross-reclaimed.

Footnotes

  • In the footnote, present the author’s name as first name(s), last name. Enclose the full title of the blog post in double quotation marks (“ “), including any subtitle separated by a colon (:). Capitalise in title style.
  • The title of the blog should be in italics followed by the date of the post (if available) and the URL.
  • The word ‘blog’ may be added in brackets after the title.
  • Blog posts can often be cited in the text or notes rather than in the bibliography.
  • If you are not sure if a source is a blog or a website, use the website template.
Citation format Example
Template # First Name Last Name, “Post Title,” Blog Name (blog), Month Day, Year, URL.  
Full note 2 Russell Harper, ““That hat!”: Punctuating How You Feel,” CMOS Shop Talk (blog), August 20, 2019, https://cmosshoptalk.com/2019/08/20/that-hat-punctuating-how-you-feel/.
Subsequent note 3 Harper, ““That hat!”  

Bibliography

Reference format Example
Template Last Name, First Name. “Post Title.” Blog Name (blog). Month Day, Year, URL  
Bibliography entry

Harper, Russell. ““That hat!”: Punctuating How You Feel,” CMOS Shop Talk (blog). August 20, 2019. https://cmosshoptalk.com/2019/08/20/that-hat-punctuating-how-you-feel/.

Footnotes

Citation format Example
Template # First Name Last Name (@Screen Name), “Up to 280 Characters of the Post (or nearest phrase if longer),” Facebook, Month, Day, Year of post, URL.
Full note 1 Karl Kruszelnicki (@Dr Karl Kruszelnicki), "We are so lucky to be alive. Dr Sara Webb's 'The Little Book of Cosmic Catastrophes' looks at dangerous galactic neighbours. So what are the chances of finding Earth 2.0? #shirtloadsofscience 💥 🌏,” Facebook, February 24, 2025, https://www.facebook.com/share/v/167VzvAUAU/.  
Subsequent note 4 Kruszelnicki, “We are so lucky to be alive”  

Bibliography

As posts and comments on social media are generally informal and brief it is not usually listed in the bibliography.

Reference format Example
Template

First Name Last Name (@Screen Name). “Post.” Facebook, Month, Day, Year of post. URL.    
Bibliography entry

Kruszelnicki, Karl. “We are so lucky to be alive. Dr Sara Webb's 'The Little Book of Cosmic Catastrophes' looks at dangerous galactic neighbours. So what are the chances of finding Earth 2.0? #shirtloadsofscience 💥 🌏,” Facebook, February 24, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/167VzvAUAU/.  

Footnotes

  • Include the name of the poster, the title of the original thread or subject, in quotation marks (“ “), title of the host site, the date of the message/post and a URL.
  • Cite the capitalisation and punctuation (including emojis) as it appears in the original post.
  • Only include citations for posts that available publicly. Posts on private forums or lists (such as Moodle discussion boards) are cited as personal communication.
Citation format Example
Template # First Name Last Name (@Screen name), “Post title,” Forum Name, Month Day, Year, URL.  
Full note 15 Single-Pudding3865, “The long term impact on children of Covid 19,” r/education, Reddit, June 8, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/education/comments/
1l63q4z/the_long_term_impact_on_children_of_covid_19/.
Subsequent note 19 Single-Pudding3865, “The long term impact on children of Covid 19”.  

Bibliography

Reference format Example
Template Last Name, First Name. “ Post Title.” Forum Name. Month Day, Year URL.
Bibliography entry Single-Pudding3865, “The long term impact on children of Covid 19,” r/education, Reddit, June 8, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/education/comments/
1l63q4z/the_long_term_impact_on_children_of_covid_19/.

Footnotes

  • Twitter content posted before the rebranding to X does not need to be updated to the new name, but it can be added in brackets after the platform name.  
  • Note citations must include enough text from the original post to identify it, up to 280 characters, including spaces and emojis.
  • Add the URL at the end of the citation.
Citation format Example
Template # First Name Last Name (@username), “Post,” X, Month Day, Year, URL.  
Full note 1 Marina Abramovic (@ArtistsPresent), “Art is not just about another beautiful painting that matches your dining room floor. Art has to be disturbing, art has to ask a question, art has to predict the future.” Twitter (now X), July 24, 2022, https://x.com/ArtistisPresent/status/1550904972371451905.   
Subsequent note 2 Abramovic, “Art is not”.  

Bibliography

As posts and comments on social media are generally informal and brief it is not usually listed in the bibliography.

Reference format Example
Template Last Name, First Name. “Post.” X. Month Day, Year, URL.  
Bibliography entry

Abramovic, Marina. “Art is not just about another beautiful painting that matches your dining room floor. Art has to be disturbing, art has to ask a question, art has to predict the future.” Twitter (now X). July 24, 2022. https://x.com/ArtistisPresent/status/1550904972371451905.  

Footnotes

  • Twitter content posted before the rebranding to X does not need to be updated to the new name, but it can be added in brackets after the platform name.
  • Note citations must include enough text from the original post to identify it, up to 280 characters, including spaces and emojis.
  • Add the URL at the end of the citation.
Citation format Example
Template  # First Name Last Name (@username), “Title of Post,” Instagram, Month Day, Year, URL.  
Full note 2 Anthony Albanese (@albopm), “We're building a future with no one held back and no one left behind. Tax cuts. Stronger Medicare. More affordable homes. Real help with the cost of living. We’re getting it done.” Instagram, June 10, 2025, https://www.instagram.com/p/DKtg3dQTuwW/?igsh=MWlqMWhidTlqODkydQ==
Subsequent note 3 Albanese, “We’re building a future.”

Bibliography

As posts and comments on social media are generally informal and brief it is not usually listed in the bibliography.

Reference format Example
Template Last Name, First Name (@username). “Post.” Instagram. Month Day, Year, URL
Bibliography entry

Albanese, Anthony (@albopm).  “We're building a future with no one held back and no one left behind. Tax cuts. Stronger Medicare. More affordable homes. Real help with the cost of living. We’re getting it done.” Instagram. June 10, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKtg3dQTuwW/?igsh=MWlqMWhidTlqODkydQ==