multiple times a day i come across cool artists that i can’t repost because their images don’t have alt text. it is always so disappointing. 😩
please add alt text to your images so everyone can enjoy the stuff you make! folks are much more likely to share your work as well if you do!
please add alt text to your images so everyone can enjoy the stuff you make! folks are much more likely to share your work as well if you do!
Comments
one especially for artists
https://www.cooperhewitt.org/cooper-hewitt-guidelines-for-image-description/
and how to add #AltText to images to Bluesky posts
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-add-alt-text-to-images-on-bluesky-and-why-you-should/
By using #AltText we recognize that
human bodies work in many ways.
Formatting digital content to be available to humans with different body abilities is a nice way to say that all humans no matter how the body works or doesn't, is important 🩷
Good Marketing Practice: Digitally accessible content, such as #AltText in graphics and images is prioritized by search engine algos. The higher your work ranks, the kore people see
#AltText can be an extension of the original work.
Aside from the physical description of the work, tells us more - what does the work mean to you, how were you inspired, what does this represent?
Use the text to capture the reader!
Long ago, before the interwebs, Judy gave a lecture at my college, the work didn't resonate with me until I listened to her talk about her work.
That second modality, her voice, hit me hard!
Her work was created through compassion 🩷
I always think you can’t go wrong with more text but I also worry maybe I’m too minimal?
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:thlp4ebkcyccpssbwpnrxct5/post/3lhytb4tygs2o
sometimes a post will just be
"holy shit" and a photo of a white man in a suit
good?
bad?
horny?
upset?
who the fuck am i looking at?
alt text also gives context that's not obvious to people who aren't you or a follower who knows you well.
Fucking hell, it benefits your reach and searchability! Include your visually impaired fans, or add them to your fanbase!
Fuck's sake I deleted the skeet earlier to fix the point in the second paragraph, sentence, and somehow missed THIS.
or if it's important, i make it clear it's a personal limitation and ask for help instead of just deciding someone else has to suck it up and get left out.
In those cases I just -don't post an image-
posting a meme riffing about how i wish more folks did alt text is also not policing.
i do not appreciate seeing random people use other disabled folks as justification for attacking accessibility.
it reeks of ableism & is extremely obvious.
Deeply unserious people who are deadly serious about deeply unserious shit.
And if the AI is stealing from other people with the same disability, that doesn't matter?
(I say this as a multiply disabled person)
Going into the shame corner :(
keep up the effort! 🦋
i’m intentionally not calling anyone out specifically, just mentioning that it’s a bummer when artists choose not to use alt text.
i really don’t get why posting this upsets some people?
Since when is it a bad thing to be courteous?
I mean - i get why it could be difficult for some people to add alt-text when there are physical or neurological limitations, but just refusing out of spite?
I have 'thoughts' about that one
I used to work with a blind guy at a non-profit i used to volunteer at
Linux has the Orca screen reader standard installed and can be turned on with just one mouseclick
like i def don’t think people should get screamed at for it or anything if they don’t use alt text.
saying i’m bummed out when someone doesn’t use alt text is not me trying to hurt anyone. 😔
i have a lot of moots with accessibility needs who i connected with because i make a specific effort to include folks.
🤷♀️
Or just repost their art with alt text, even though that doesn't always drive engagement to them.