29th January 2023, Kathmandu
Instagram is a popular visual social media platform that allows users to share photos and videos with their friends and followers.
One of the features that Instagram offers is the ability to add ‘Alt Text’ to your posts. Alt Text is a description of the image or video which is added to provide context for those who are visually impaired.
It also helps search engines understand the content of the image, making it more discoverable. In this guide, we will show you how to add or change Alt Text in your Instagram posts.
Step 1: Open the Instagram app on your device
To start, open the Instagram app on your device. Make sure you have logged in to your account.
Step 2: Create a new post or edit an existing post
To create a new post, tap on the camera icon in the bottom center of the screen. To edit an existing post, go to your profile, tap on the post you want to edit, and tap on the three dots in the top right corner.
Step 3: Add a caption and location
When creating a new post, you will be prompted to add a caption and location. If you are editing an existing post, you can tap on the caption to edit it. The location is optional, but it can be helpful for people who are searching for posts in a specific area.
Step 4: Add Alt Text
Once you have added a caption and location (if desired), you can add Alt Text to your post. To do this, tap on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen. This will bring up the post options menu. From here, tap on ‘Edit Alt Text.’
Step 5: Type in your Alt Text
When you tap on ‘Edit Alt Text,’ a text box will appear where you can type in your Alt Text. Make sure to keep it brief and to the point. It should describe the main subject of the image or video, and it should not include hashtags or mentions.
Step 6: Save your changes
Once you have typed in your Alt Text, tap on ‘Done’ to save your changes. The Alt Text will now be visible to screen readers and search engines.
Step 7: Post your image or video
When you’re happy with your post, tap on the ‘Share’ button in the top right corner. Your post will now be visible to your friends and followers.
It’s important to note that you can also add or change Alt Text on Instagram stories. To do this, simply create a new story or edit an existing one, then tap on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen. From there, tap on ‘Add Alt Text’ and type in your description.
Note: Alt text is used to provide a brief description of the image for visually impaired users and is only visible when the image is unable to load. It is important to add descriptive text that accurately describes the image.
It’s important to note that Instagram does not currently support automatic alt text generation, so it’s up to the user to add appropriate alt text to their images.
It’s also important to use clear and concise language when writing alt text, as it will be read out loud by screen readers.
Additionally, it’s important to avoid using text-based emojis in the alt text, as they may not be read correctly by screen readers.
In conclusion, adding Alt Text to your Instagram posts is an important step in making your content more accessible to those who are visually impaired.
It also makes your content more discoverable to search engines.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily add or change Alt Text on your Instagram posts. Remember to keep your Alt Text brief and to the point, and make sure to include it in all your posts and stories.
