Cite a TikTok video in APA 7
Citing TikToks in APA 7 trips students up because the official handbook predates short-form video by years. The current guidance is to treat the post like any other social media entry: the account handle is the author, the first 20 words of the caption are the title, and the upload date is the year.
APA 7 rules for a TikTok video
- Use the account display name followed by the handle (@username) in square brackets.
- The first 20 words of the caption serve as the title, in quotes.
- Append [Video] in square brackets to indicate the medium.
- TikTok is the container; include the full post URL.
- Upload date is the publication date; archive a copy in case the post is removed.
- Use 'Retrieved DD Month YYYY, from URL' for sources that may change.
Worked example
APA 7 · TikTok videoA real TikTok video formatted using the APA 7 rules above.
[@thestudentroom], T. S. R. (2024, September 21). Three things every uni student should know in week one [Video]. *TikTok*. https://www.tiktok.com/@thestudentroom/video/7412345678901234567
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