Community Relations Custodian Chris Pycroft presented at the Disability Education Association of NSW and ACT on how often social media platforms are accessed, accessibility barriers, and what you can do to make your content on social media as accessible as possible.

1. Accessibility for social media platforms
Disability Education Association NSW/ACT
Professional Development Day – 30 April 2013
Chris Pycroft (@chrispytweets)
Community Relations Custodian

2. Agenda
Three key topics will be covered in today‟s
presentation:
 How often is social media accessed?
 Social media and accessibility
 How to make your social media content as
accessible as possible

3. How often is social media
accessed?

4. The short answer … a lot!
More than two thirds of people aged 14-29
access social media at least once a day.
Almost two thirds of the time that young people
spend on the internet is spent on social
networking sites.

5. Okay … maybe more than a lot!
Nine out of ten Australians aged 14-29 use social
media at least once a week.
Almost two thirds of people aged 14-29 think the
amount of time they are spending on social media
is increasing or staying the same.

6. Is it only 14-29 year olds?
Social media use has increased or stayed the same
for:
 81% of 30-39 year olds
 65% of 40-49 year olds
 80% of 50-64 year olds
 85% of 65+ year olds
What does this mean?
Everyone is using social media more than ever.

7. How is social media accessed?
Under 30 Over 40

8. Facebook
Almost every person in Australia that uses social
media has a Facebook account.
14-29 year olds spend nine hours a week on
Facebook.

9. Twitter
Twitter is visited more often than any other social
networking platform (23 times a week)
Around one in five 14-29 year olds who use social
media access Twitter.
It‟s also popular with the 30-39 and 50-64 age
groups.

10. LinkedIn
The more „experienced‟ a person gets, the more likely
they are to use LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is used:
 Most by 40-49 year olds (28%)
 Least by 14-19 year olds (1%)
It is accessed less frequently; 50% of users visit no more
than twice a week.

11. References
 2012 Yellow Social Media Report
(http://about.sensis.com.au/news/2012-yellow-
social-media-report/)
 Internet use and social networking by young
people (Australian Communications and Media
Authority (ACMA), 2008)
(http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib3
10665/no1_internet_use_social_networking_youn
g_people.pdf)

12. Social media and accessibility

13. What is web accessibility?
Web accessibility means that people with
disabilities can use the internet.
Web accessibility means that as many people as
possible can interact, navigate and understand
the web.

15. Other statistics
The number of Australians with a vision
impairment will reach one million by 2020.
One in six Australians can‟t hear multimedia
content on the web.

16. Facebook demonstration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhpIqmg
QbRo

17. What are the accessibility
issues?
Particular accessibility issues continually raised:
 Incompatible with assistive technology
 Colour contrast
 Keyboard navigation
 Captioned videos
 Alternative text

18. Incompatible with assistive
technology
Accessibility features are often built into
computers, tablets or smart phones. These include:
 Screen reader or VoiceOver
 Zoom / Magnifier
If the technology doesn‟t work with a website, then
people with a disability won‟t be able to access
content on it.

19. Colour contrast
A lack of contrast between the colour of text and
its background means people with a vision
impairment can‟t see it properly.

20. Keyboard navigation
Anyone who can‟t use a mouse must be able to
navigate a website using a keyboard only .
This includes people with a vision impairment
(who don‟t know where to click a mouse), or
people with a physical disability who can‟t move a
mouse.

21. Captioned videos
A video without captions means that any person
with a hearing impairment can‟t hear it.
Any video, such as a lecture, should include
captions or a transcript to make it accessible.

22. Alternative text
Alternative text conveys the message of what is
being shown in an image.
It allows people with a vision impairment to
understand what meaning the image provides.

23. Alternative text
Incorrect: “Man at microphone.”
Correct: “US President Barack Obama making a
speech.”

24. Are social networking websites
accessible?
Short answer: Not as much as we‟d like them to be.
If a part of a popular website isn‟t accessible, there is
often a workaround.
LinkedIn has proven to be more accessible than
Facebook and Twitter.

25. Research on social media
accessibility
Media Access Australia released a SociABILITY
report in 2012, reviewing accessibility of social
networks.(http://www.mediaaccess.org.au/sites/d
efault/files/files/MAA2657-%20Report-
OnlineVersion.pdf)
Report also contains how to’s for beginners.

26. Accessibility: Facebook
Alternative solutions for using Facebook:
 Use the mobile version of the website instead of
the full (desktop) version.
 Use keyboard shortcuts
(http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=440)
 Use Facely HD App – available for Apple devices.

27. Accessibility: Twitter
Alternative solutions for using Twitter:
 Use mobile applications:
 Twitter
 Twitterific
 Use the mobile version of the website.
 Use EasyChirp.

28. Twitter Newsfeed

29. Twitter Newsfeed on EasyChirp

30. Accessibility: Linkedin
Alternative solutions for using Linkedin:
 Use Google to search for a particular person you
would like to connect with:
 Example: “Chris Pycroft LinkedIn”
 Use applications instead of the main website.

31. Accessibility: All platforms
If you know someone experiencing accessibility
issues:
 Encourage them to connect with support staff for
the social platform.
 Reach out to accessibility communities.

32. How to make your social media
content as accessible as possible

33. Where are you putting your
content?
Never put information that may benefit someone
exclusively on social media, as it may not be
accessible to them.
Always ensure information is communicated in an
alternative format.

34. Syncing of content across social
platforms
Avoid putting the exact same message on each
social platform you use.
Different platforms have different purposes and
different audiences.
The more diverse your social media usage is, the
more effective your content will be.

35. Posting an image on Facebook
After posting an image, make a comment that
conveys the purpose and meaning of the image.

36. Posting about a video?
No other video player is as accessible as YouTube, and
most alternative players do not support captions.
Be aware of automatic captions.

37. Want to include hashtags in your
tweet?
Make sure any #hashtag is at the start or the end of
your tweet.
A screen reader will read out the hashtag as a
link, and will interrupt the information you‟re
communicating.

38. Summary
Social media is here to stay!
While there are accessibility barriers, there are
workarounds.
Always cater for the widest audience where
possible, as you never know who has a disability.

39. Web accessibility know how
Slides will be available on Slideshare
http://www.slideshare.net/accessiq
Level 3, 616-620 Harris St
Ultimo NSW 2007
t: +61 2 8218 9320
e: knowhow@accessiq.org
@accessiq
accessiq.org