How to Use Instagram Alt Text to Make Your Posts Accessible？

How to Add Alt Text on Instagram

On Instagram, alt text can be added to both standard image posts and carousel posts. To add alt text to your upcoming Instagram post, simply follow this detailed, step - by - step guide:

Step 1.Begin creating your post in the typical manner. Upload a single image or incorporate up to ten images to construct your carousel.

After you navigate to the "New post" page, you will encounter various options such as "Write a caption," tagging individuals, adding a location, including music, and others. Scroll all the way to the bottom of this page and select the “Advanced settings” option.

Step 2.On the "Advanced settings" page, scroll to the bottom where you'll find an "Accessibility" section. Then, click on the "Write alt text" option.

Step 3.In the Alt Text tab, compose the descriptive alt text for your Instagram post. Ensure that it precisely depicts the content of the image using one or two clear and concise sentences. Once you are satisfied with the alt text, click "Done."

When creating a carousel, you will notice a thumbnail for every image. To the right of each thumbnail, there is a text box prompting you to “Write alt text…” for that specific picture. It's important to complete the alt text for all the slides in your carousel before clicking “Done.”

Step 4.Tap the back arrow located on the "Advanced settings" page, which will redirect you to the “New post” page.

Add your caption, location tags, and other post settings as usual, then click “Share.”

How to View Alt Text on an Instagram Post

Since Instagram's alt text serves as an accessibility feature, it is only "visible" to individuals using a screen reader. In other words, the screen reader will audibly read the alt text when the user taps on your post.

Nonetheless, you have the ability to view the alt text on your own Instagram posts and also edit existing posts to add alt text. To carry out these actions, please follow the steps below.

Step 1.Tap on the Instagram post for which you want to view the alt text.

Step 2.At the top of the screen, tap on the three vertical dots (...) located in the top - right corner.

Step 3.Click "Edit."

Step 4.Click "Edit Alt Text," located in the bottom, right-hand corner.

Step 5.Make any changes as needed. Click "Save."

What Does Good Alt Text on Instagram Look Like

To address this, we first need to bear in mind that the main purpose of alt text is to enable visually impaired users to access visual content via screen readers.

Although Instagram SEO is an excellent method to increase the engagement of your posts and alt text can enhance searchability on Instagram, the aim should not be to cram keywords into your alt text to gain the algorithm's approval. Instead, concentrate on crafting a clear and precise description of the photo that effectively communicates all pertinent information to a visually impaired user.

There is also a character limit of 100 characters or fewer, so ensure your alt text is concise.

According to the Perkins School for the Blind, here is a checklist to consider when writing Instagram alt text:

Describe the photo's content: Above all, use straightforward and uncomplicated language to explain what is depicted in the image.

Include important text in the image: If there is any text within the image that is relevant to the context, be sure to incorporate it into the alt text.

Identify the people in the picture: For personal Instagram accounts and creator profiles, this involves naming the individuals. For brands, it might mean describing the model featured in your post.

Now, let's examine some examples of how to write alt text while keeping these guidelines in mind.