How to Cite an Online Video in APA Format

Citing an online video in APA format requires the name of the uploader or creator, the upload date, the video title, the platform name, and the URL. This applies to videos on YouTube, Vimeo, TED, and similar platforms.

Basic Online Video Citation Format

The standard APA 7th edition format for an online video citation is:

Reference list entry:

Author, A. A. [Screen name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Platform Name. https://www.example.com/video

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Author, Year)

Narrative in-text citation: Author (Year)

In-Text Citation Examples

When you reference an online video within your paper, you have two options:

• Parenthetical: The experiment demonstrated the reaction in real time (NileRed, 2023).
• Narrative: NileRed (2023) demonstrated the reaction in real time.

Common Variations

YouTube Video

For YouTube, use the channel name as the author if the real name is unknown. Include [Video] in brackets after the title.

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. (2023, September 12). The secret world inside your phone [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example

TED Talk (Online)

Speaker, A. A. (Year, Month). Title of talk [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/example

Robinson, K. (2006, June). Do schools kill creativity? [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity

Video with Known Person and Screen Name

When both the real name and screen name are known, list the real name first with the screen name in brackets.

Sanderson, G. [3Blue1Brown]. (2024, February 8). But what is a neural network? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example

Tips for Citing Online Videos

• Use [Video] in square brackets after the title to identify the format.
• Credit the person or organization most responsible for the content as the author.
• Include the screen name in brackets if it differs from the real name.
• Use the upload date, not the date you watched the video.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a specific timestamp in a video? Include the timestamp in your in-text citation: (Author, Year, 2:15). In the reference entry, cite the full video.

What if the video has been removed or is no longer available? Cite the video as you would normally. Note that APA does not require you to verify that URLs remain active after publication.

How do I cite a YouTube playlist or channel? Cite the entire channel as you would a social media profile, including a retrieval date since the content changes.