Alt Text For Dummies

11/11/2024

After starting to use bluesky, and having used tumblr for a long time, I have learned that most sighted people suck really bad at utilizing alt text and writing image descriptions. Not just because they don't use it at all - but more because people do it poorly.

I'm of the opinion that it's worse to write shitty alt text than none at all.

Alt text is intended for two main purposes: to provide information when an image will not load, or when a user is blind and using a screen reader. It is not for irrelevant jokes. It is not for infodumping loads of text that won't fit in your post (just make a thread...) and it isn't for manipulating "the algorithm" to gain more attention. When you misuse it, you actively make the user experience worse for blind people, who have to sit there and listen to their screen reader spit out worthless information.

Most social media sites have alt text built into their post editors, but since I'm writing on neocities it's important to mention that it is present in html as well. You can add it like so: <img src="IMAGE.JPG" alt="ALT TEXT">
You may also leave it blank so that a screen reader will skip over it. This is useful when the images are irrelevant decorations.

When writing image descriptions in alt text, I've gathered a few tips and learned from trial and error.

1. Keep it simple, stupid
• Don't go into excessive detail. It's bad enough reading alt text that describes every little thing, and even worse having to listen to it.
2. Don't second guess yourself
• Your impression of something or your intent as an artist is what matters here. Just say what you see/sense.
3. Your world is not objective, and you cannot provide an objective description of it
• Blind people do not give a shit about your world. They live in their own world, and experience it in their own way that is not less "true" than yours. Focus on information that they're more likely to find valuable or interesting.

I recommend reading Against Access by John Lee Clark to gain more perspective on this topic. It's what made me realize why I wasn't satisfied with the descriptions I wrote - because they were boring and lame. In pursuit of trying to share my world as it "objectively" is, I wrote them in a very clinical and cold tone, lacking things like context, emotion, and gesture. This isn't a particularly long read, and I think it's very valuable. Consider reading it and learning something new today.

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