How to Cite a Meme in APA, MLA & Chicago (With Examples)

You found the perfect meme for your assignment. It's funny, relevant, and explains your point better than another paragraph could. There's just one problem. How do you cite one?

Unlike books or research papers, memes rarely come with a clear author, publication date, or official title. Sometimes, the same image appears on dozens of websites, each claiming to be the original.

But citing one isn't as difficult as it sounds. So how do you cite a meme? Here is a simple list of things you need if you’re short on time:

• Identify its creator
• Publication date
• Title or description
• Website or platform
• Source URL

Then arrange those details according to APA, MLA, or Chicago citation rules. This guide explains how to cite memes and GIFs in all three styles, with formats, examples, and tips for finding missing source information. Read on for more in-depth examples and rules for different citation styles.

How to Cite a Meme: Step By Step

The easiest way to cite a meme is to treat it like an online image or social media post, depending on where you found it.

Start with these steps:

1. Find the creator: Look for the original artist, account name, or username.
2. Check the publication date: Use the date the meme was posted, not the date you downloaded it.
3. Identify the meme: Record its title, caption, or a short description.
4. Save the source URL: Link to the specific post or webpage rather than the platform's homepage.
5. Choose your citation style: Arrange the information according to APA, MLA, or Chicago guidelines.

For example, suppose you find a meme on Instagram showing someone staring at a laptop with dozens of software updates waiting.

If you're using APA, you'll generally cite the social media post with its author, date, caption, content type, platform, and URL.

MLA follows a similar approach but arranges those details differently. Chicago gives you more flexibility, especially when referencing social media posts in footnotes.

The key is making the source easy to find. Your reader shouldn't need detective skills to work out where the meme came from.

What If You Can’t Find the Information You Need?

You won't always find all the information to cite a meme properly. That's normal. Many memes spread through reposts, screenshots, and group chats. The original creator might be unknown, or the image may have been edited so many times that nobody can trace its first appearance.

Use the information you can verify. Don't invent an author or date to make the citation look complete.

Also, remember that the person who uploaded a meme isn't necessarily the person who created the original image. That difference matters when you're discussing the meme's history or crediting the artwork.

How to Cite a Meme in APA Style (7th Edition)

If your assignment follows APA 7th edition, you can usually cite a meme shared on social media using APA's social media reference format.

APA citations help readers identify who published the content, when it appeared, and where they can find it.

Let's use Instagram as an example.

APA Meme Citation Format

For a meme published as an Instagram image, use this general structure:

Author, A. A. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of the post [Description of content]. Instagram. URL

Description of content means whether the content is a photograph, illustration, or anything else. If the author's real name isn't available, use the account name or username as the author.

APA uses the first 20 words of a social media post as its title. Keep the original spelling, hashtags, and emojis where possible. If the meme is shared on a different platform, adjust the platform name and content description.

For more guidance, see Purdue University's APA reference guide.

APA Meme Citation Example

We’ll cite an imaginary Instagram post for this example. Imagine that Alex Rivera publishes a meme on Instagram on June 12, 2025. The caption reads:

"When you open your laptop and see 37 updates waiting."

The account username is @alexdraws.

APA reference:

Rivera, A. [@alexdraws]. (2025, June 12). When you open your laptop and see 37 updates waiting [Description of content]. Instagram. https://example.com/post/meme-001

This citation identifies the account, posting date, caption, image type, and location (a fake URL in our case—but add the real URL when you’re citing).

When citing an actual meme, replace every sample detail with information from the source.

APA In-Text Citation for a Meme

APA uses the author-date system. If you're discussing the meme in an essay, the in-text citation would look like this:

• Parenthetical citation: (Rivera, 2025)
• Narrative citation: Rivera (2025)

For example:

The meme uses an exaggerated reaction to show how frustrating routine software updates can feel (Rivera, 2025).

Notice that the in-text citation doesn't need the full URL. That information belongs in the reference list.

And if you reproduce the meme as a figure, APA may also require a figure number, title, and attribution note. A regular reference-list citation doesn't always cover the requirements for reproducing an image.

How to Cite a Meme in MLA Style (9th Edition)

MLA is common in literature, language, and other humanities subjects. It also has guidance for citing memes, photographs, and social media posts.

The most important rule is to cite the specific version of the meme you used, not the entire meme trend.

Consider the distracted boyfriend meme. Thousands of variations exist, often with different captions and meanings. Citing the original photograph wouldn't automatically identify the edited version discussed in your essay.

The MLA Style Center's guidance on citing memes makes this distinction clear.

MLA Works Cited Format

For a meme published on social media, you can generally follow this structure:

Creator's Last Name, First Name [@username]. "Caption or Title of Post." Platform, Day Month Year, URL.

If the post has no suitable title or caption, provide a brief description instead. An author-supplied description is generally written without quotation marks.

MLA Meme Citation Example

Let's return to Alex Rivera's fictional Instagram meme. You would cite the previous example post like this:

Rivera, Alex [@alexdraws]. "When you open your laptop and see 37 updates waiting." Instagram, 12 June 2025, https://example.com/post/meme-001.

Both APA and MLA use the same source information, but the order and punctuation differ.

MLA places the creator's name first, puts the caption in quotation marks, and italicizes the platform name.

If the meme has no caption, you could instead use a description such as:

Rivera, Alex [@alexdraws]. Meme showing a frustrated laptop user facing multiple software updates. Instagram, 12 June 2025, https://example.com/post/meme-001.

Use whichever description accurately identifies the material you consulted.

MLA In-Text Citation for a Meme

MLA usually uses the author's last name in parentheses.

• In-text citation: (Rivera)

For example:

The meme turns an ordinary software update into a shared joke about everyday frustration (Rivera).

There's no publication year in the parenthetical citation. If you've already mentioned the creator in your sentence, you usually don't need to repeat their name in parentheses.

For example:

Rivera uses exaggerated facial expressions to make a routine technical problem seem dramatic.

When the creator is unknown, use a shortened title or description that matches the beginning of the Works Cited entry.

How to Cite a Meme in Chicago Style

Chicago style works a little differently. It has two citation systems:

• Notes and bibliography: Uses numbered footnotes or endnotes, commonly in history and humanities writing.
• Author-date: Uses parenthetical citations and a reference list, commonly in science and social science writing.

Chicago also allows many social media posts to be cited directly in the text, without a full bibliography entry.

So, before creating your citation, check which Chicago system your instructor requires.

Chicago Footnote and Bibliography Example

Let's use the same fictional Instagram meme.

Footnote:

1. Alex Rivera (@alexdraws), "When you open your laptop and see 37 updates waiting," Instagram, June 12, 2025, https://example.com/post/meme-001.

If your instructor requests a bibliography entry, format it like this:

Bibliography:

Rivera, Alex. "When you open your laptop and see 37 updates waiting." Instagram, June 12, 2025. https://example.com/post/meme-001.

In Chicago's notes-and-bibliography system, a formal bibliography entry isn't always necessary for social media content. A footnote may be enough. You can find more examples in the Chicago Manual of Style citation guide.

Chicago Author-Date Citation Example

Chicago's author-date system looks closer to APA.

• In-text citation: (Rivera 2025)

Reference list entry:

Rivera, Alex. 2025. "When you open your laptop and see 37 updates waiting." Instagram, June 12, 2025. https://example.com/post/meme-001.

For example:

The meme presents software updates as a small but familiar workplace annoyance (Rivera 2025).

Unlike APA, standard Chicago author-date citations don't place a comma between the surname and year.

That tiny difference matters when you're trying to keep an assignment consistent.

How to Cite a GIF in APA, MLA, and Chicago

Memes aren't always still images. Sometimes the best reaction comes from a GIF that repeats the same two-second moment forever.

But how do you cite a GIF? The answer depends on where the GIF appears and how you're using it.

A GIF posted on Instagram may be cited as social media content. A GIF hosted on GIPHY or another website may need a citation based on its creator, title, and webpage details.

Let's compare the three styles.

How to Cite a GIF in APA

To cite a GIF in APA 7th edition, identify its creator, publication date, title or description, website, and URL.

For a GIF published as a standalone online work, an illustrative format is:

Author, A. A. (Year, Month, Day). Title or description [Animated GIF]. Website Name. URL

Suppose a fictional creator named Jordan Lee uploads a GIF titled Coffee Before Monday Meetings to a website called Loop Library.

APA reference:

Lee, J. (2025, March 10). Coffee before Monday meetings [Animated GIF]. Loop Library. https://example.com/gif/coffee-loop

In-text citation: (Lee, 2025)

This is an illustrative online-image approach, not a special universal APA format for every GIF. If the GIF appears within a social media post, follow the relevant social media rules instead.

How to Cite a GIF in MLA

MLA's approach depends on where the GIF appears.

If it's a standalone item on a GIF website, include the creator when known, the title or description, the website, date, and URL:

Creator's Last Name, First Name. "Title of GIF." Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.

MLA example:

Lee, Jordan. "Coffee Before Monday Meetings." Loop Library, 10 Mar. 2025, https://example.com/gif/coffee-loop.

In-text citation: (Lee)

But what if the GIF appears inside a BuzzFeed article?

In that case, you may need to cite the article itself and refer to the GIF in your discussion, rather than treating the GIF as a separate publication.

MLA explains this in its guide to citing GIFs.

How to Cite a GIF in Chicago

For a standalone GIF from a website, Chicago's notes-and-bibliography approach can identify the creator, GIF title, content type, website, publication date, and URL.

Footnote example:

1. Jordan Lee, "Coffee Before Monday Meetings," animated GIF, Loop Library, March 10, 2025, https://example.com/gif/coffee-loop.

Bibliography example:

Lee, Jordan. "Coffee Before Monday Meetings." Animated GIF. Loop Library, March 10, 2025. https://example.com/gif/coffee-loop.

If you're using Chicago author-date, the corresponding in-text citation would be:

(Lee 2025)

These examples assume the GIF is an independently published work. If it's part of a social media post, article, or video, cite the actual source you consulted.

Meme Citation Examples: APA vs. MLA vs. Chicago

Here's a comparison using the same fictional Instagram meme. It’ll be useful if you’re still miixing up formats.

The corresponding in-text references are:

Remember to of course, replace the “URL” in the comparison table with actual links.

The examples show why citation styles shouldn't be mixed. They may reference the same image, but each follows different rules.

If you're working with several kinds of sources, a citation generator can help organize citation details. Just check the final result against the required style guide, especially for unusual sources like memes.

Further Reading:

• How to Cite a Letter
• How to Cite a PDF
• MLA Style Center: How Do I Cite a Meme?
• MLA Style Center: How Do I Cite a GIF?
• Purdue OWL: APA Electronic Sources
• Chicago Manual of Style: Citation Quick Guide

How to Cite a Meme With Missing Information

You may have everything needed for a citation. Then again, you might have a blurry screenshot from a group chat and absolutely no clue where it came from. That's where things get complicated.

Fortunately, missing information doesn't always mean you can't cite a meme.

How to Cite a Meme With No Author

If a meme has no identifiable creator, look for the account or organization responsible for the version you used.

For example, a meme posted by a university's official Instagram account may be cited using that account as the author when no individual poster is identified.

But be careful.

The account that reposted a meme isn't automatically its original creator. If you're researching who made the meme, you need evidence of authorship, not just the earliest repost you happen to find.

If no author can be established, follow your chosen style's rules for sources without authors.

• In APA, the title or description may move into the author position.
• In MLA, begin the entry with the title or description.
• In Chicago, begin with the title or another identifying element when no author is available.

The details depend on the source type, so don't simply write "Anonymous" unless the work is actually credited that way.

How to Cite a Meme With No Publication Date

Some websites display meme images without upload dates. Others show a date for the webpage but not for the meme itself. Don't guess!

For APA, use (n.d.) when no publication date is available.

For MLA, omit an unavailable publication date and add an access date when useful for identification.

For Chicago, an access date may be appropriate when the publication or revision date can't be determined. Chicago author-date citations can also use "n.d." for undated online sources.

For example, if you found an undated meme on a website, your citation should reflect that missing date rather than inventing a year.

What If You Can't Find the Original Meme?

A familiar meme appears in a Reddit thread, but the original image seems to have vanished from the internet. What now?

First, try searching for the original source. You can use CopyChecker's reverse image search to look for visually similar copies of the meme. This may help you locate earlier versions or pages containing the image.

However, finding an older copy doesn't prove you've found the original creator.

If the source remains unknown, cite the specific version you actually consulted. Include enough information to help readers identify it, and explain any uncertainty about its origin when that matters to your argument.

A clear citation with limited information is better than a detailed citation built on guesses.

Why Is It Important to Cite Memes?

Memes may be funny, but they can still contain someone else's creative work. An edited photograph, original illustration, or carefully timed GIF might take only seconds to enjoy. Creating it can take much longer.

Citing memes serves several purposes.

It acknowledges creative work. When you can identify the original creator, attribution gives readers a way to recognize their contribution.

It supports academic honesty. If you include someone else's image or idea in an assignment, a citation helps distinguish borrowed material from your own work.

It helps readers verify the source. A meme can lose its meaning when shared without context. Linking to the original post can reveal when and why it was published.

It makes your argument clearer. If you're analyzing internet humor, digital culture, or online communication, readers need to know which version of a meme you're discussing.

There is one important distinction: citing a meme doesn't automatically give you permission to reproduce it.

Copyright and attribution are separate issues. Whether you can reuse an image depends on factors such as licensing, permission, applicable copyright exceptions, and how you intend to use it.

For academic writing, accurate attribution is still an essential starting point.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Cite a Meme in an Essay?

To cite a meme in an essay, include the creator's name, publication date, title or description, and source URL. Use an in-text citation and a reference entry according to APA, MLA, or Chicago guidelines.

How Do You Cite a Meme You Made?

You generally don't need to cite an original, unpublished meme you created yourself. However, if you've published it online or used someone else's image to make it, you may need to include a citation or source credit.

Do You Need to Cite a Meme in a PowerPoint?

Yes, if you're using someone else's meme in an academic presentation, you should credit the source. Include the creator, title or description, and source link near the image or on a reference slide.

Can You Cite a Meme From Social Media?

Yes. You can cite memes from Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, and X as social media posts. Include the account name, publication date, caption or description, platform, and direct post URL.

How Do You Cite a Meme Image?

To cite a meme image, identify its creator, title or description, publication date, and website URL. Format these details according to your required citation style, whether APA, MLA, or Chicago.

Can You Cite a Meme Without Knowing Who Created It?

Yes. If the original creator is unknown, use the meme's title or a brief description according to your citation style. Include the available publication details and source URL so readers can locate it.

Conclusion

Citing a meme might seem strange at first. After all, it's just an image with a funny caption, right? But when you use that image in an essay, research paper, or presentation, its source matters.

To cite a meme correctly, find the creator, date, caption or description, platform, and URL. Then follow the specific citation rules to format your citation.

For GIFs, remember to check whether you are citing a standalone animation, a social media post, or a larger work containing the GIF.