How to quote an informal online article or comment?

Informal online materials such as blog posts or social media comments can be cited academically when appropriately documented. Their inclusion relies upon verifiable source details and persistent access methods. Standard citation styles typically permit referencing informal web sources if sufficient retrieval information is provided. Verifying the original author or source platform is essential. Include the specific publication date and a stable URL or Digital Object Identifier (DOI) whenever possible; consider archiving unstable content through services like WebCite or Archive.org. Always preserve the full context of the quoted material. Exercise particular caution regarding anonymity, ephemeral platforms, and potential biases inherent in informal sources. Precisely identify the author(s), including platform usernames if real names are unavailable. Specify the exact date of posting and the hosting platform name (e.g., "Comment on Nature News Twitter post"). Provide a direct, functional URL. State "[Comment]" or "[Online forum post]" as the format. Prioritize permanent identifiers or archived versions to ensure long-term verifiability and uphold research integrity, enabling replication and source validation.