SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY2012

Rutherford County

What is Social Media?

• “Content created by individuals using accessible and scalable technologies through the Internet”

• “A category of Internet-based resources that integrate user-generated content and user participation”

– Examples of social media: Facebook, blogs, MySpace, RSS, YouTube, Second Life, Twitter, Linkedin, and Google Wave

The County respects the right of employees to use blogs and social networking sites as

a medium of self-expression and public conversation and does not discriminate against employees who use these media for personal interests and affiliations or

other lawful purposes

Employees are expected to follow the guidelines and policies set forth to provide a clear line between you as the individual

and you as the employee

• Only authorized employees may speak on behalf of the County

• An authorized employee is a Constitutional Officer, an employee appointed by a Constitutional Officer, or an employee approved by the County Mayor and Director of Information Technology

Current Policy

County Website• The County's primary and

predominant Internet presence shall remain www.rutherfordcountytn.gov and no other website, blog, or social media site shall characterize itself as being the County’s primary or home Internet site

Making a Request• It is requested that a Constitutional Officer

notify the Director of Information Technology of the name of the person(s) within their office who will be responsible for the content and the upkeep of the social media site created.

• All other departments, before a county social media medium is created, the department head must submit a written request to the County Mayor and the Director of Information Technology

• The County Mayor and the Director of Information Technology must approve the request

• The request shall: (1) specify the reasons for the request; (2) describe the type of information to be provided; and (3) name the persons within the department who will be responsible for the content and the upkeep of the social media site created or maintained pursuant to the request

Represent yourself, not the County

• The use of a County email address, job title, uniform, official County name, seal or logo shall be deemed an attempt to represent the County in an official capacity

Employees should be aware that all Social Media

medium are widely accessible and should

therefore use discretion when posting anything!

Is it really worth it?• You can be held personally liable for

commentary that is considered defamatory, obscene, proprietary or libelous by any offended party, not just Rutherford County Government

• The County reserves the right to immediately remove any content that violates this Policy

• Posting of content prohibited under this policy may subject the poster to removal from all County social media medium in addition to civil and/or criminal penalties under federal and/or state law and immediate termination of employment

Open Meetings ActCommissioners of the County shall be aware that social medium should not be used to discuss or deliberate any matter with another Rutherford County Commissioner when such communication is or could reasonably be deemed to be in violation of the Open Meetings Act, T.C.A. 8.- 44-101 et.seq., commonly known as "the Sunshine Law"

Rutherford County Government supports transparency

Statements about Rutherford County Government must be

truthful and substantiated

Privacy• Employees are cautioned that they should

have no expectation of privacy while using the County’s technology resources

• Your postings can be reviewed by anyone, including the County

• The County reserves the right to monitor comments or discussions about the County and its employees posted on the County social media mediums

Just Be Smart• If you wouldn’t say it to anyone and

everyone, in person, don’t post it!• If you wouldn’t publish it in writing with

your name on it, don’t post it!• If you wouldn’t like your children, parents,

significant other, or best friend to read it, don’t post it!

• A virtual comment is not worth your job!