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Imagine you’re scrolling through Instagram but can’t see what’s on each post. Don’t want to use the app? Of course not. That’s the reality of more than 2.2 billion people worldwide who have near or far vision impairments.
But they shouldn’t be left out of the fun on Instagram just because. In this article, we will show you how to add alt text to your Instagram posts, so that you can include people with disabilities. Jump right in.
What is Alt Text?
People with disabilities cannot see content on Instagram or social media. That’s where alt text comes in. It describes what is on the picture in words, so that it can be easily read by a screen reader for people with disabilities.
Sometimes called word-to-speech, screen readers are a form of assistive technology that reads digital content to the visually impaired.
It is therefore important to clearly describe, using alt text, what is on the image. If the image does not load for any reason, the alt text will be displayed in its place.
Alt text is also indexed by search engines like Google. So, if you want your content to rank higher in Google Search, you should consider adding alt text to your images.
Why Add Alt Texts to Your Instagram Posts?
In November 2018, Instagram added an alternative text section to make the app more accessible to people with visual impairments. Although you may not interact with them, therapists also use Instagram and may interact with your stories.
That’s why it’s important that you make your posts accessible to them, so that they can think about what’s on it. Examples of visual impairment are blindness and low vision. The purpose of alt text is not to offend people with visual impairments.
Instagram also has an automatic alt text feature, which relies on technology to identify and describe what’s in the photo. However, it is known to be inaccurate and confusing to people with disabilities. That’s why it’s best to add your own alt text if you’re interested in feeding them.
How to Add Alt Text to a New Instagram Post
There are two ways to add alt text to your Instagram post—when creating the post and after publishing (an existing post). Start by adding alt text to a new Instagram post.
- Open the Instagram app on your phone.
- Start sending or capturing images by clicking on the Add more icon at the top of the screen.
- Edit the photo according to your needs.
- Tap Follow up on the iPhone or the Arrow icon on Android until you reach the last step (before uploading the image).
- Scroll down and tap Advanced Settings.
- Go to the Entry the section to be typed Add alt text.
- Type alt text in the text box to describe what’s in the picture you’re uploading.
- Finally, type It’s done on the iPhone or the Recommendation icon on Android.
That’s it. Once that’s done, you can finish uploading your photo.
How to add Alt Text to an Instagram post
Let’s say you forgot to add alt text to an Instagram post when you posted it. Or maybe you didn’t know the feature existed until you read this article, so you want to go back and add it to your previous posts. Follow the steps below.
- Go to the post you want to add alt text to.
- Click on the triple dot Menu above the post.
- Then type Fix itfollowed later Edit Alt Text in the lower-right corner of the image.
- Edit the text in the text box and type It’s done (iPhone) or the Recommendation icon (Android). Click the icon again to save your changes.
Tips for adding Alt Text to your Instagram posts
The idea of adding different text to your Instagram posts should not be overwhelming or discouraging. Finally, it’s not the same as adding a label. The text you add should not be long and confusing. Keep it short, simple, and most importantly – accurate.
Remember that the person using the screen reader is trying to understand what is in the picture. Don’t let them be sad. Then, describe what is in the picture as it looks.
For example, if you have posted a picture of your dog in front of your apartment door, the alt text should read, “My dog is sitting in front of my apartment door”. Ignore irrelevant details like the color of the sky or the angry neighbor in the background.
Enter your Instagram account
Few creators think about integrating their Instagram accounts. Target yourself to a larger audience by adding alt text to your photos.
For all you know, your post is the first thing a person with a disability sees in their day. It could be the difference between them staying on the app and getting out of the dark.
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