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Image Description and ALT text: Why do people use them?
Sophie Mason
December 2024
Why ThinkGlobal HR and ThinkEDI Always Use Image Descriptions
At ThinkGlobal HR and ThinkEDI, we’re committed to making our content accessible to everyone. Accessibility isn’t just a buzzword for us—it’s a core value. One simple but powerful way we promote inclusivity is by always using image descriptions. Let’s dive into why we do this, some surprising statistics about screen reader use, and a few best practices for writing accessible content online.
Why Are Image Descriptions Important?
Image descriptions provide crucial information for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have cognitive disabilities. Screen readers, the technology that converts text into speech or Braille, can only interpret words—not images. Without descriptions, images become gaps in the content for users relying on screen readers. Imagine scrolling through an article and missing half the story because parts of it aren’t accessible to you—that’s what it’s like for screen reader users when images lack descriptions.
Using image descriptions ensures that everyone, regardless of their vision, can fully engage with our content. And it’s not a small group who benefit from this; research shows a significant number of people use or want to use screen readers.
How Many People Use or Want to Use a Screen Reader?
The statistics around screen reader usage show just how necessary image descriptions are. According to WebAIM’s 2021 Screen Reader User Survey, approximately 71.5% of screen reader users rely on them regularly. But it’s not just people who are blind or have low vision who find screen readers helpful—many neurodivergent individuals and people with certain learning disabilities benefit from them as well. With an aging population, the demand for screen readers is expected to increase, as more people may require visual assistance over time.
These numbers emphasize the importance of making digital content inclusive. By providing image descriptions, we’re not just enhancing accessibility; we’re serving a broad and diverse audience.
![[Image description: A young woman with long blonde hair is sitting at a desk, working on a laptop. She’s wearing large white headphones and has a warm smile, suggesting she’s either listening to something enjoyable or engaged in a pleasant conversation. The setting appears to be a well-lit, minimalist space, with natural light streaming in from a nearby window. The overall atmosphere of the image feels calm and focused.]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0a69b154ca134611ab35f6c4e3ffcd43.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_652,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Girl%20Using%20Laptop.jpg)
[Image description: A young woman with long blonde hair is sitting at a desk, working on a laptop. She’s wearing large white headphones and has a warm smile, suggesting she’s either listening to something enjoyable or engaged in a pleasant conversation. The setting appears to be a well-lit, minimalist space, with natural light streaming in from a nearby window. The overall atmosphere of the image feels calm and focused.]
Alt Text vs. Image Descriptions: What’s the Difference?
Both alt text and image descriptions serve similar purposes but in slightly different ways.
Alt Text: This is a brief description embedded within the image’s HTML code, typically limited to about 125 characters. It’s meant to give a quick summary of the image’s content and is often used in places where space is limited, like website images or social media thumbnails. Alt text is ideal for describing straightforward images, like a logo or a headshot, where just a few words will do.
Image Descriptions: These are usually longer and provide more detail, describing not only what’s in the image but also the context or mood if relevant. Image descriptions are useful for images with complex content or visual details, such as infographics, illustrations, or photos with multiple people. They’re often placed in the body of a post or as a caption, allowing for more comprehensive descriptions that help users visualize what’s in the image.
ThinkGlobal HR and ThinkEDI make use of both alt text and image descriptions to ensure that our content is accessible across different platforms and formats.
Why Emojis Are Tricky for Screen Reader Users
Emojis can be fun, but they can also cause confusion for people using screen readers. Each emoji has an assigned description, and a screen reader will read each one out loud. For example, 😊 becomes "smiling face with smiling eyes," and 🎉 becomes "party popper." When emojis are used sparingly, this isn’t usually an issue, but when several emojis are strung together, they can disrupt the flow of content and make the message hard to follow. Imagine listening to "smiling face, thumbs up, party popper, clapping hands" as someone tries to read an otherwise straightforward post. It’s easy to see how this could get frustrating!
To keep content smooth and readable for everyone, ThinkGlobal HR and ThinkEDI avoid excessive use of emojis in text that might be read by a screen reader. When we do use emojis, we keep them to a minimum and place them thoughtfully so they don’t interfere with the message.
[Image description: A young woman with dark hair is seated at a table, focused on working on her laptop. She’s wearing large over-ear headphones and a green sweater, giving her a look of concentration. Beside her, a man with curly blonde hair, dressed in a red plaid shirt, is taking notes on a notepad, also deeply engaged in his work. The workspace is bright, with large windows allowing natural light to fill the room, creating a productive and collaborative atmosphere. A beverage can and some papers are on the table, adding to the casual work environment.]
Image Description and ALT text: Why do people use them?
Making Accessibility an Everyday Practice
Providing image descriptions and considering screen reader users in our content isn’t just about meeting accessibility guidelines—it’s about being thoughtful and inclusive. By making these small adjustments, we help create a digital space where everyone feels welcome and able to engage.
At ThinkGlobal HR and ThinkEDI, we’re proud to prioritize accessibility because it’s simply the right thing to do. And if you’re a content creator, business owner, or even just a social media user, we encourage you to join us. Taking a few moments to write an image description, use meaningful alt text, and limit emoji use can make a world of difference to someone navigating the online world with a screen reader. After all, inclusion should be an everyday practice, not an afterthought.
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