In recent years, the social photo platform Instagram has become more friendly to blind and visually impaired users through the alt text feature.

Alt text is a short text description of a photo that's read aloud by a screen reading program. This text is an essential way for the visually impaired to get the clearest image of internet photos, which is why you should add alt text to photos you post on Instagram.

Instagram automatically creates alt text for your Instagram posts through object recognition technology. This determines what's in your photo and passes that on to screen readers. But automatic alt text is highly inaccurate. It doesn't understand the most important part of the photo and lacks the context to explain why you posted a particular photo.

If you manually enter your own alt text when you post a photo to Instagram, your post can be understood and appreciated by the largest possible audience.

Here's how to write and include alt text with your Instagram posts.

Remember that your alt text is describing the photo to someone who may not be able to see the photo, or who has trouble seeing its details. Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Using the Instagram app on your phone, start to create a post in the usual way.

2. After you select a photo and choose your filter, tap "Next."

3. On the screen in which you add the caption, tag people, and add a location, tap "Advanced 4. Settings" at the bottom, below the option to connect to other social networking sites.

You can find alt text in the Advanced Settings. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. In the Accessibility section of the Advanced Settings page, tap "Write Alt Text."

After you tap "Write Alt Text," you'll be able to write a description of the photo. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

5. Write a short description of the photo and then tap "Done"

6. Finish posting your photo in the usual way.

You may go back to existing posts and add alt text.

1. Using the Instagram app on your phone, tap an Instagram post.

2. Tap the three-dot menu next to your photo.

3. Choose "Edit" in the pop-up menu.

Tap the three-dot menu to open the drop-down menu for your post. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. If the hashtag menu obscures the photo, tap a different part of the caption to make it go away.

5. In the lower right corner of the photo, tap "Edit Alt Text."

You should see the option to edit your alt text in the lower right corner of an existing Instagram post. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

6. Write a short description of the photo.

7. Select "Done" and then tap "Done" again to save your post.

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