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Online videos are increasingly legitimate academic sources—from recorded lectures and conference talks to expert explainers and even TikToks. But they don't fit neatly into traditional citation formats. Here's how to handle them.
The Core Elements You Need
For any video citation, gather as much of the following as possible:
- Who created it: The uploader, channel name, creator's real name, or organization. This is your "author."
- What it's called: The video title. Use the exact title from the platform.
- When it was posted: Upload date or publication date.
- Where you found it: Platform name (YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo) and URL.
- When you watched it: Access or retrieval date (some styles require this for online sources).
- How long it is: Runtime (required by some styles).
The "Author" Question
This is where video citations get tricky. Who's the author of a YouTube video?
Use the channel name as author when: The channel represents an organization or brand (TED, Vox, university channels), the individual creator uses their channel name as their professional identity, or you can't identify the creator's real name.
Use the person's real name when: The creator is identifiable and uses their real name, the video is a lecture, interview, or talk by a known figure, or academic norms in your field prefer real names.
Example: A TED Talk by Brené Brown would cite Brown as the author, with TED as the site. A Crash Course video would cite CrashCourse as the channel/author.
For TikToks, the username (including the @) is typically your author. If you can identify the creator's real name and it's relevant, you might include both.
Quick Reference by Major Style
APA (7th Edition)
Channel Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Platform. URL
Example:
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. (2024, March 15). What if we nuke the sun? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxx
For TikTok:
@username. (Year, Month Day). First words of caption or description [Video]. TikTok. URL
MLA (9th Edition)
"Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
"What if We Dehat the Sun?" YouTube, uploaded by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, 15 Mar. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxx.
Chicago (Notes-Bibliography)
Channel Name, "Title of Video," Platform, Month Day, Year, video, runtime, URL.
IEEE treats videos as online sources with the platform and access date noted.
Check the specific style guide for your discipline for exact formatting.
Timestamps for Specific Moments
If you're citing a specific claim or moment in a video, include a timestamp. This is like citing a page number—it lets readers verify your claim.
In-text: (Kurzgesagt, 2024, 3:42)
Some styles put the timestamp in the citation itself. Others treat it as an in-text element only. Check your guide.
Lectures, Webinars, and Conference Recordings
Academic recordings follow the same principles but may include additional elements:
Course lectures: Include the course name and institution.
Professor Name. (Year). Lecture title [Lecture recording]. Course Name, Institution. URL
Conference presentations: Include the conference name and location.
Speaker. (Year, Month Day). Presentation title [Video]. Conference Name, Location. URL
Webinars: Include the hosting organization.
Presenter. (Year, Month Day). Webinar title [Webinar]. Organization. URL
TikTok-Specific Guidance
TikTok creates unique citation challenges because videos are short and often informal, captions are limited, creators primarily use usernames, and content disappears frequently.
For citations, use the @ username as author, use the first words of the caption or spoken content as the title (in quotes), note that it's TikTok, include the full URL, and save a screen recording in case the video is deleted.
Is citing TikTok appropriate for academic work? Depends on context. A TikTok from an expert discussing their field? Potentially valid. A viral dance video? Probably not—unless you're studying viral dance videos.
Shorts, Reels, and Stories
Ephemeral content like Instagram Stories presents a challenge: it may not exist when readers try to access it.
Options include screenshotting or recording the content for your records, noting the access date prominently, considering whether this source is appropriate given its impermanence, and using it as supporting evidence rather than a foundational source.
If you must cite ephemeral content, some scholars recommend treating it like personal communication—acknowledged but not in the reference list.
When the Video Gets Deleted
Unlike journal articles, online videos can disappear. If a video you cited is taken down, check if it's reuploaded elsewhere (Internet Archive, other channels), keep your own records (screenshots, notes, downloads where legal), note in your manuscript if the source is no longer available, and consider whether your argument can stand without it.
This is a good reason to cite videos sparingly for key claims and to access them early in your writing process.
Should You Cite Videos at All?
Online videos are appropriate sources when the creator is a credible expert or organization, the content provides unique information or perspective, you're studying media, communication, or online culture, and a video is the primary source (e.g., a speech, performance, interview).
Be cautious when video content is unsourced or speculative, a written source would be more authoritative, your field doesn't typically accept video sources, or the video might disappear before publication.
When possible, corroborate video claims with more traditional sources.
The exact formatting for video citations depends on your required citation style. Check the specific guide for your discipline below.
