Debate: Alt text on social posts - detailed descriptions vs quick labels?

I used to just write 'photo of a cat' for Instagram alt text but now I do full scene descriptions after learning blind users need context. Which side are you on for quick scrolling posts, short and sweet or as detailed as possible?

3 comments

3 Comments

zarak182mo agoMost Upvoted

Oh man, I'm so guilty of this too. My alt text game used to be like "a dog" and I'd call it a day. Now I'm out here writing full novels like "a small fluffy terrier mix wearing a red bandana sits on a park bench at golden hour with autumn leaves falling in the background." But then I'll accidentally describe the wrong number of people in a group photo and it's just... yikes. I think the sweet spot is somewhere between "cat on couch" and "War and Peace" honestly.

the_taylor2mo ago

Wait @zarak18, do you think over-describing actually makes things worse for screen readers?

burns.brooke15d ago

The "wrong number of people in a group photo" detail just sent me, honestly. I've definitely been there counting people in a crowd shot and realizing I missed someone (or added an extra imaginary person).