Social Media Policy

Most organizations have policies in place with regard to use of work communication devices.  There is a limit on private telephone calls, and using emails and the internet for personal business.  There are also rules about net-etiquette, flaming, etc.  These policies can be extended to cover social media.  Authorized personnel make announcements within strict guidelines.  These need to be considered as well.

Five points needing consideration for social media policies when employees are using Web 2.0 tools and spaces for work and personal use while using the organizations computers/network and time are:

1.  Legal – business and enabling acts, records management requirements, discrimination, etc.  These are part of business culture but need to be considered in the more relaxed environment of social media.

2.  Confidentiality – keeping corporate secrets and preserving colleagues’ privacy.  Disclosure policies can be incorporated and extended.

3.  Etiquette – watching what is said, not causing or taking offence, preserving the proprieties.  Correct behaviour is expected at work and should continue online.

4.  Responsibility – acknowledging authorship, own opinion, errors and correcting errors. 

5.  Publishing – all the requirements of publishing including copyright and getting permissions for photos etc. need to be listed.

Legal – none of the articles mentioned working to specific acts although anyone who works in government, health or law has their actions mandated by acts.  For instance public servants cannot comment on anything to do with their government.

Confidentiality – Anderson (2009, para 9), Lauby (2009, para 16) Kroski (2009, para 11) and IBM (2010, para 9) stressed the need for keeping proprietary secrets.

Etiquette – Lauby (2009, para 11), Kroski (2009, para 15) and IBM (2010, para 9) promote respectful attitudes for online discussion.

Responsibility – Lauby (2009, para 7), Kroski (2009, para 13) and IBM (2010, para 9) require acknowledgement of authorship.

Publishing – IBM (2010, para 9), Kroski (2009 para 13) and Lauby (2009, para 17) cover copyright requirements.

Reference

Anderson, J. (2009, April 8). Social media policies and museums. Indianapolis Museum of Art. Message posted to http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/04/08/social-media-policies-museum.

IBM Social Computing Guidelines Blogs, wikis, social networks, virtual worlds and social media. (2010). Retrieved January 31, 2010 from http://www.ibm.com/blogs/zz/en/guidelines.html.

Kroski, E. (2009, October 1). Should your library have a social media policy? School Library Journal. Message posted to http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6699104.html.

Lauby, S. (2009, June 2). 10 Must-Haves for Your Social Media Policy, Mashable, 6 February. Message posted to http://mashable.com/2009/06/02/social-media-policy-musts/.