Yes, UGC videos should include captions in almost every case, because lots of people scroll with sound off and captions let your message land even in silence.
In an April 2019 online survey of 5,616 U.S. adults ages 18-54 run by Verizon Media with Publicis Media, 69% said they watch video with sound off in public, 25% said they do the same in private, and 80% said captions make them more likely to watch a full video.
For Orlando and Central Florida businesses, that’s everyday behavior: people are in waiting rooms, lobbies, break rooms, theme park lines, or sharing a space with family, and turning audio on is not always realistic.
When captions are non-negotiable
If your UGC video is embedded on your website or landing page, captions are part of basic accessibility under WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.2.2 for prerecorded video with audio, which is the standard many ADA and WCAG conversations reference.
| Caption type | What it looks like | When we use it |
|---|---|---|
| Open captions (burned in) | Text is part of the video and always visible | Short-form social ads and Reels when you want every viewer to read the hook even if captions are turned off |
| Closed captions (toggle) | A caption track viewers can turn on or off | YouTube, website embeds, and longer videos where language tracks and a cleaner screen matter |
Caption tips that keep UGC feeling natural
- Caption every spoken line, and add quick notes for meaningful sounds when they change the message (phone ringing, timer ding, crowd cheer).
- Auto-captions are fine as a starting point, but always edit for brand names, addresses, medical terms, and punctuation.
- Keep lines short, usually one or two lines, and time them tightly to the speech so viewers can follow without rereading.
- Keep captions inside the safe area for vertical video so they don’t sit under app buttons or a product link sticker.
- Put the offer language on screen early, so a silent viewer understands the point in the first second or two.
- If your customer base includes Spanish speakers (very common in Orlando), consider a Spanish-captioned version when it fits your audience.
The only time we skip full captions is when the video has no speech and the story is purely visual; even then, we still add a short on-screen headline so silent viewers know what they’re seeing.
If you want captioned content that still feels like real UGC (not a corporate explainer), our UGC video service covers scripting, filming, editing, and caption styling built for mobile viewing.
If you’re embedding videos on your site, our FAQ on website accessibility breaks down how captions tie into usability and accessibility expectations.
