Tagging someone in a photo on social media can be a great way to share moments with friends and let them know they are in your thoughts. But how exactly do you go about tagging someone in a photo you post? Here is a step-by-step guide to tagging people in photos on some of the most popular social media platforms.
Tagging on Facebook
Facebook makes it easy to tag friends in your photos. Here is how to do it:
- Upload or select the photo you want to tag someone in. This can be done on desktop or in the Facebook mobile app.
- Click on the photo and select “Tag Photo” from the bottom menu.
- Start typing the name of the friend you want to tag. A dropdown menu will appear with friend suggestions. Select the correct friend.
- Use your mouse to click on your friend’s face in the photo. This will place a tag over their face.
- To add additional tags, repeat steps 3 and 4. Tag as many friends as you like.
- Once finished, click “Done Tagging” and then “Post.”
Once posted, the friend(s) you tagged will be notified and the tag will be linked to their profile. People viewing the photo can click on the tag to be taken directly to your friend’s profile.
Tagging on Instagram
Instagram tagging works very similarly to Facebook:
- Upload a photo to Instagram or select an existing photo from your gallery.
- Tap the photo to open the editing screen. Tap the “Tag People” icon at the bottom.
- Type in the username of the person you want to tag. Select them from the dropdown menu.
- Use your fingertip to draw a box around their face. This creates the tag.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 to keep tagging more friends.
- Once finished, click “Done” in the top right and then “Share.”
The main difference with Instagram is that tags are displayed over the photo instead of under it. The overall tagging process is very similar though.
Tagging on Twitter
Twitter doesn’t have a built-in tool for tagging people in photos. But you can simulate photo tags using the @ symbol and captions:
- Compose a new tweet and upload a photo.
- In your caption, use @ and then the person’s username to mention them. For example: “Here is a photo of me and @johncook at the beach!”
- The person you mentioned will be notified. You can mention multiple people in one caption.
- Make sure to place the @ mentions close to where the person appears in the photo so it’s clear who you’re tagging.
- Complete your tweet and hit send!
While Twitter doesn’t have official photo tagging, the @ mentions let you informally tag friends and they will appreciate being included!
Tagging on Snapchat
Snapchat also makes it easy to tag your friends in photos you share. Here’s how:
- Take a snap and go to add text or draw on it. Tap the “Sticker” icon instead.
- This will open your friends list. Tap on a friend’s name to add their Bitmoji sticker to your snap.
- Move and resize the sticker to place it over your friend’s face or body.
- You can add multiple friend stickers to one snap this way.
- Finish up your snap and send away or add it to your story!
The friend you tagged will be notified when you send the snap. Their Bitmoji stickers will only appear to you and your mutual friends.
Tagging Friends vs. Public Accounts
An important distinction on most social networks is that tagging friends is different than tagging public accounts:
- You can tag personal friends who follow you back without needing their approval.
- But tagging a celebrity, influencer, brand, or other public account requires their permission first.
- So you can freely tag your friends but not public figures or brands unless they provided expressed consent.
Why Tag Friends on Social Media?
Here are some of the benefits of tagging friends in your social media photos:
- Lets them know you are thinking of them and want to share a moment.
- Tags them in a location or event which can spark conversation.
- Helps other friends identify who is who in group photos.
- Engages your friends with your social media posts.
- Can make your photos more discoverable by linking to more profiles.
Tagging Tips
To make the most of tagging, keep these tips in mind:
- Ask permission before tagging friends who are very private.
- Only tag friends who are actively using the social platform.
- Place tags carefully on or near faces for clarity.
- Tag people you haven’t connected with in awhile to re-engage.
- Use tagging to showcase your friends and share the spotlight.
Tagging Considerations
While tagging can be fun and useful, be aware of a few key considerations:
- Over-tagging the same friends constantly can be annoying.
- Photos can show up on someone’s profile if they are tagged.
- Tags notify your friend and bring them into the conversation.
- Unflattering or unapproved tags can cause hurt feelings.
- Remove tags for friends who prefer to stay anonymous online.
How to Remove or Edit Tags
Made a mistake with tagging or change your mind? Here is how to edit or remove tags:
Facebook:
- Click the three dots above the post and select “Edit Post.”
- Hover over a tag and click the “X” to remove it.
- Click “Done Editing.” The tag will be removed.
Instagram:
- Tap the photo, then tap and hold the tag you want to edit.
- Select “Edit Tag” and change the name from the dropdown menu.
- To remove, select “Remove Tag.”
Snapchat:
- Tap and hold the Bitmoji sticker you want to remove.
- This will select it and you can drag it away from the photo to delete it.
- Repeat for any other tags you wish you remove.
It’s easy to make changes to tags before and after posting. Be aware that removing tags after posting will unlink that person from the photo and conversation.
Conclusion
Tagging friends on social media takes a simple click or tap, but doing it thoughtfully strengthens relationships. Be selective with your tags, place them carefully, and engage your friends in the moment. With tagging done right, your social media bonds can thrive!