How to Use Instagram Alt Text for Accessibility

This post in a nutshell:

What is alt text and why it’s important
How to set up alt text on Instagram
The best practices for writing effective alt text
How Instagram’s automatic alt text generator works and its pros and cons

With over two billion monthly active users, Instagram is undeniably one of the most popular social media platforms. While it primarily focuses on sharing visual content, ensuring that your Instagram posts are accessible to all users, including those with visual impairments, is crucial.

In this article, we'll explore how to use Instagram alt text for accessibility and discuss its importance, set up, best practices, benefits, and limitations.

‍

A man walking with his girlfriend is distracted by a girl in a red dress. The image is overlaid with this simplified alt text and a white cursor pointing to the text box. — via Mashable

What is Instagram alt text?

Alt text, short for "alternative text," is a textual image description of an image that assists those who cannot see the photo with understanding its content.

Why is alt text important for accessibility?

Alt text makes image posts accessible to users with visual impairments, such as those who rely on screen readers or have difficulty interpreting images.

By providing an informative and accurate description of your images, you allow users with visual impairments to experience your content fully. Without alt text, they would miss out on the visual content that makes up a significant portion of online content.

Other benefits of alt text

Alt text is not only beneficial for users with visual impairments but also for those with slow internet connections or compatibility issues. When images fail to load on their devices, alt text provides an informative and accurate photo description, allowing them to understand its context.

Moreover, incorporating alt text in your content contributes to improved search engine optimization (SEO), as search engines rely on text to index images. By providing an accurate description of your social media images, you increase the chances of your content appearing in search results, leading to a broader online reach and visibility.

Related: How to Write for SEO in 2024

Setting up alt text on Instagram

Now that we've established the importance of alt text, let's explore how you can set it up on your Instagram posts to make your content more accessible.

Adding alt text to new posts

To add alt text to a new Instagram post, follow these simple steps:

Upload your image the same way you would for a standard post.
After adding your caption and tags, click on +Advanced Settings at the bottom of the screen.
Scroll down to find the Write Alt Text option and select it.
Type in a concise and descriptive alt text for your image, and click Done.
Finally, share your post as usual.

Editing alt text on existing posts

If you want to add or edit the alt text for an existing post, follow these instructions:

Open your Instagram post and tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
Select Edit from the menu.
Tap on the Edit Alt Text icon located in the bottom right corner of the image.
Type or update the alt text, and click Done.
Tap the checkmark in the upper right corner to save your changes.

Related: How to Boost An Instagram Post

Best practices for writing effective alt text

To create useful alt text that effectively communicates the content of your images, consider these best practices:

Be descriptive and concise

Your alt text should accurately describe the image's content without being overly lengthy. Aim for a brief yet informative description that captures the essence of the photo.

Use keywords strategically

Incorporate relevant keywords that describe your image and align with your content, but avoid keyword stuffing, as this can lead to a poor user experience and may have negative SEO implications.

Avoid overloading with information

Focus on the essential elements of the image without delving into minor details. Stick to what is necessary for a user with a visual impairment to understand your content and avoid overwhelming them with information.

Instagram's automatic alt text feature

Instagram has implemented an automatic alt text feature that uses artificial intelligence to generate a description of an image when alt text is not provided. While this can be convenient, it has its limitations.

How does it work?

Instagram's automatic alt text feature uses object recognition technology to identify elements within an image and generate a textual description. It's intended to make the platform more accessible for visually impaired users and assist those who don't manually input alt text.

Pros and cons of automatic alt text

While Instagram's automatic alt text feature can be helpful, there are some drawbacks to relying on it.

Since the feature uses AI to generate the description, it may not always accurately convey the context or essence of an image. Additionally, it doesn't account for strategic keywords, potentially hindering your content's SEO.

It's recommended to manually input customized and well-thought-out alt text for your images to ensure accuracy, context, and increased SEO benefits.

In conclusion, incorporating alt text in your Instagram posts contributes to improved accessibility, user experience, and content discoverability, promoting an inclusive social media presence.

By learning to add and edit alt text on Instagram, following best practices, and understanding the limitations of the automatic alt text feature, you can make your content accessible to a broader audience and boost your online reach.

If you enjoyed this post, check out some of our related articles:

‍