Accessibility and Instagram

Instagram is a visual social media platform used to share photos, videos, and short-form content, and to follow individuals, organizations, and community accounts. Owned by Meta, Instagram is widely used by people who are blind or have low vision, particularly through its mobile apps.

Meta publishes accessibility information for Instagram through its Instagram accessibility resource page, which outlines supported features and known limitations. Instagram can be used to share personal updates, promote events or programs, and engage audiences through images, video, and text. Accessibility on Instagram depends both on the platform’s features and on how individuals and organizations create and share content.

Using Instagram with Assistive Technology

Instagram is most commonly accessed through its mobile apps for iOS and Android. Many blind and low vision users interact with Instagram using built-in screen readers such as VoiceOver and TalkBack. Instagram can also be accessed on the web using screen readers on desktop operating systems. Meta provides guidance on using Instagram with screen readers on macOS and Windows.

Core features that are commonly accessible include:

  • Browsing posts and stories
  • Reading posts and comments
  • Posting photos and videos
  • Managing direct messages
  • Following accounts and engaging with content

Accessibility and usability may vary depending on the feature, device, and app version.

Images and Alternative Text on Instagram

Instagram allows users to add alternative text to images. Alt text provides a text description of visual content for people who use screen readers.

Instagram may also generate automatic descriptions when alt text is not provided. These automatic descriptions can be helpful, but user-written alt text is typically more accurate and informative.

When possible, adding your own alt text is recommended.

Accessibility Best Practices for Instagram

Whether you are posting from a personal account or managing a business or organizational account, following accessibility best practices helps ensure your content can be understood by people who use screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Add Alternative Text to Images

When adding alt text on Instagram:

  • Describe the purpose or key information shown in the image
  • Use punctuation and complete sentences so descriptions are read clearly aloud
  • Keep descriptions concise and focused
  • Avoid phrases such as “image of” or “photo of,” as screen readers already announce images
  • Include visible text from the image if it is important for understanding the post
  • Avoid emojis, decorative symbols, or excessive capitalization in alt text

Learn how add alternative text to images for accessibility.

Use Clear, Descriptive Post Text

  • Use complete sentences to explain the content or purpose of the post
  • Do not rely on images or video alone to convey important information
  • Avoid placing essential information only in images, stories, or reels

Clear post text helps ensure that people using screen readers understand the context of a post.

Avoid Emojis and Decorative Formatting

From an accessibility perspective, using emojis in Instagram posts is generally not advised. Screen readers announce emojis aloud, which can interrupt the flow of text and reduce clarity.

Avoid:

  • Emojis used within sentences or in place of words
  • Excessive line breaks used for visual spacing
  • Decorative symbols (such as repeated punctuation or shapes)
  • All-caps text for emphasis

If emojis are used at all, they should be minimal and placed only at the very end of a caption. Emojis and decorative formatting should never convey essential information.

Write Hashtags Accessibly

Hashtags are more accessible to screen reader users when written in CamelCase, with each word capitalized.

Example:
#DigitalAccessibility instead of #digitalaccessibility

Avoid long strings of hashtags, which can be difficult to navigate when read aloud.

Make Video Content Accessible

Instagram supports video through posts, stories, and reels.

When sharing video:

  • Avoid placing essential information only in on-screen text
  • Ensure that important visual information is conveyed through narration or audio description

Audio Description

Instagram does not automatically generate audio description. If audio description is needed, it must be included in the video’s primary audio track. Some organizations choose to create separate audio-described versions of video content when appropriate.

Video Captions

Instagram supports auto-generated captions for some video content. Caption controls are most consistently available when posting from the mobile apps. More information about Instagram’s accessibility features is available on the Instagram accessibility page. Caption controls are most consistently available when posting from the Instagram mobile apps for iOS and Android. Caption options on desktop are limited and may not be available for all accounts or video formats. Instagram does not support uploading caption files for video content. Instead, the platform relies on auto-generated captions, which cannot be imported, timed, or fully edited by creators.

Learning More About Instagram Accessibility

Meta publishes accessibility information across a set of accessibility resource pages covering Instagram and other Meta products. These resources describe supported features and known limitations and may change over time.