Social media is a ubiquitous part of the modern digital experience.
Even those who insist they don’t need a Facebook, TikTok, or Twitter account are still hit endlessly in the form of linked posts, articles, and references.
And most companies know how important it is to have a presence on these platforms.
This is why so many websites, blog posts, and emails contain familiar symbols like the little blue bird for Twitter, the camera for Instagram, “in” for LinkedIn, and so on.
Most people know that when they click on these instantly recognizable icons on a website or in an email, they are taken to the company’s page on the relevant social media site.
And these icons even appear in offline environments: in outdoor ads, TV ads, or printed on the bottom of collateral to encourage viewers to find and follow the advertiser on digital platforms.
But before you smack the red Pinterest “p” and Facebook “f” on all your outward-facing materials, there are a few things you need to know — most importantly, these symbols are copyrighted and must be used in Compliance with prescribed social media site branding guidelines.
Improper use or distortion can lead to legal consequences for your company.
Don’t worry as this article aims to give you all the information you need to comply with these guidelines and also where to find logos for 10 of the most popular social media platforms.
Everything you need to know about using social media icons
The approved Facebook icon can be downloaded from the Facebook brand resource page.
Acceptable Use Policy
- Facebook’s logo is a small f in a circle.
- The “f” logo should be used to indicate your presence on Facebook; This can be your page, profile, group or event.
- You should use a clear call to action, e.g. B. “Follow us on Facebook”.
- The Facebook icon should be the same size as other nearby icons, with enough free space between them. Its shape and proportions should be maintained.
- It should not be made or animated on physical objects.
- The icon should only be used in Facebook blue or white, gray or black on color-limited websites or promotional materials.
- Use of Facebook brand assets on television, digital advertising, or packaging requires permission.
youtube
YouTube offers three downloadable icons (full color light, full color dark, and solid color) on its Brand Resources page.
Acceptable Use Policy
- The YouTube logo is a triangle inside a rounded square.
- Use of the YouTube logo requires an empty space at least as large as the triangle in the icon.
- The logo must be clear and legible regardless of the size of the device. The minimum height is 20 pixels for digital media and 0.125 inches for print.
- The logo may not be altered in any way.
- The logo icon can be used as a call to action (CTA) or as a shorter version of the YouTube logo.
- Logos and icons serving as links must point to a YouTube channel.
WhatsApp brand assets, including icons, are available for download on the brand overview page.
Acceptable Use Policy
- The green and white WhatsApp logo should be used whenever possible, with the black or white versions being used when the content is primarily black or white.
- The green rounded square logo should be used to indicate the iOS version, not as a social media icon or share button.
- The WhatsApp icons should not be modified, including changing their design, combining them with other words or images, or changing their colors.
- WhatsApp brand resources should never be used in a manner that implies partnership, sponsorship, or endorsement.
The icons for Instagram are available for download on the Brand Icons page.
Acceptable Use Policy
- The glyph (camera icon) should be used to denote your presence on Instagram. The app icon is only used to encourage people to download the app or when displayed alongside other apps on a device.
- There should be a CTA button next to the glyph unless it is lined up with other social media icons.
- The minimum distance between the glyph and other visual elements is half their size on all sides.
- You should never use a glyph that is disproportionate, rotated, or smaller than 29×29 pixels.
- You can use the glyph in any solid color, although Instagram recommends black or white.
Tick tock
TikTok and logo and button packs can be downloaded from the Design Guidelines page.
Acceptable Use Policy
- The primary TikTok logo is a “note” icon and a TikTok word mark. The secondary only uses the grade. If the first two are not suitable due to size, format or design limitations, you can use the tertiary stack logo with the notice above the wordmark.
- Icons should always have a border of at least 5% of the format height.
- There should be clear space on all sides equal to the full width of the logo.
- The minimum icon size is 16 pixels for digital media and 3mm for print.
- The logo may not be scaled, recolored, rotated or otherwise modified in any way. Avoid using it on busy backgrounds.
Snapchat
Download the official Snapchat ghost logo from the Brand Guidelines page.
Acceptable Use Policy
- The Snapchat logo is a ghost in black or white, the only colors it should be shown in.
- You may not alter, rotate, modify, or obscure the logo in any way.
- The Snapchat logo should be the same size as any other logo it will appear next to.
- The app icon should not be used except in connection with mobile apps or an icon on a mobile phone.
- Snapcode emblems that make it easier for users to find your profile can be used on the web, social media, on packaging and in print.
Pinterest Icons can be downloaded from the site’s Brand Guidelines page.
Acceptable Use Policy
- The Pinterest icon is a script “P” on a red, black, or white circle.
- You should only use the Pinterest badge – not the wordmark.
- Each usage should be accompanied by a CTA proportional to the icon.
- The red symbol should be used whenever possible.
- Do not add outlines, filters or effects to the logo. If the contrast is not enough, consider using an alternative color.
- The P should not be removed from the circle or placed in a different shape.
The Reddit logo, wordmark, and share icons can be downloaded from the Brand Resources page.
Acceptable Use Policy
- Reddit’s logo is a white, smiling alien aka “Snoo” head on an orange-red background.
- The symbol and word mark should be used together whenever possible.
- Icons and the word mark should be surrounded by a space of at least 140% of the icon size.
- The Snoo icon may only be used without the word mark as a share icon or on Reddit itself.
- The icon may not be recolored, outlined, distorted, reversed, or modified in any way.
LinkedIn logos and icons are available on the Downloads page.
Acceptable Use Policy
- LinkedIn’s icon is a lowercase “in” in a rounded box. Its default color is blue, but a black version can be used on black and white layouts, and a white one on dark backgrounds.
- The minimum clearance around the logo should be 200% of the width of the “i”.
- The minimum size is 21 pixels in digital media and 0.25 inches in print.
- The ® and ™ symbols must be clearly visible and legible.
- Design elements and dimensions should never be altered.
Twitter assets are available on Brand Toolkit page.
Acceptable Use Policy
- Twitter’s icon is a bird, which is either blue or white depending on the background.
- Unlike other social media sites, Twitter prefers its icon to be used as is, without being placed in a box or circle — although you can place it in a circle, square, or rounded square if you wish.
- It may not be distorted, rotated, animated or otherwise altered.
- Only the latest version of the logo should be used.
- The minimum size is 32 pixels.
Using social media icons
As you can see, there are some differences in the way you can use social media icons, but they all have a few things in common – namely that they don’t allow changes and they should be used to establish a connection to your brand’s page on the respective platform.
If you use multiple icons, make sure they are consistent in size and resolution.
This means that while LinkedIn’s minimum size is 21 pixels, it should be at least 32 pixels when placed next to the Twitter bird.
Speaking of placement, you should choose a prominent place for placement, but be careful not to overshadow your own branding.
Two of the most common places for these icons on web pages are at the top and in the footer. In these places, they are easily found by users and become a seamless part of the page design.
You can include them not only on web pages but also in your email signature or in email newsletters.
They can also be used in non-hyperlinked marketing such as television commercials, billboards, and print ads. Note, however, that these uses are only to acknowledge that your brand has a presence on these platforms.
Social media icons are a great way to increase your follower count while providing a way for people to connect with your business. Just note that there are pretty strict guidelines on how and when to use them.
More resources:
Featured image: branding66/Shutterstock
