A new report from the Center for Technology in Government at the State University of New York at Albany provides guidance to government agencies on developing a social media policy. The report, which reviewed about two dozen policies and interviewed more than 30 officials, identifies eight basic elements:
- Employee access – Agencies manage access in two ways, either restricting the number or type of employees who can access social media sites or limiting the types of sites that employees can access.
- Account management – Many agencies required the chief information officer and/or the communications officer to oversee social media accounts.
- Acceptable use – Agencies are struggling with the blurring line between personal, professional, and official agency use of social networking sites.
- Employee conduct – Most agencies referenced existing policies for employee conduct, although a few addressed some behaviors specific to social media, such as the need for transparency and openness.
- Content — Most agencies tried to maintain at least a minimal level of control over online content, either by assigning management responsibility to an individual or retaining the right to review content.
- Security — Most policies referenced agency IT security guidelines, although a few focused specifically on the importance of password control.
- Legal issues — While some policies simply advised employees to follow all applicable laws, several focused on records retention and others required sites to post specific disclaimers.
- Citizen conduct — About a dozen policies included rules of conduct for citizens, including restrictions on offensive language.
The report includes sample language, links to policies, and guidance for getting started. Download a copy of the report (PDF).
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