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SOCIAL MEDIA
POLICY
HOW-TO GUIDE
Creating a Social Media Policy
HOW-TO GUIDE
A social media policy, also known as a social networking policy, is a corporate guideline or code of
conduct designed for your employees to govern their online behavior. Social media is represented
by online networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest. A policy can relate
to employees who manage your corporate online presence, as well as to employees personal use
of social media.
The purpose of setting forth online social policies is to set expectations and boundaries for your
employees so they are aware of what appropriate behavior is and what actions will not be toler-
ated. These policies are important to ensure your business does not encounter legal problems or
public embarrassment as a result of an employee’s online presence.
Some social media policies can be very specific and lay out detailed rules for online networking,
while others can be quite broad and give more flexibility. The choice is ultimately yours, as the
employer, to determine the best fit for your corporation’s needs.
This How-To Guide will outline why you should have a social media policy, the different types of
policies and key components of a policy, followed by a detailed action plan on how to create a
clear, decisive and successful social media policy for your company.
It is the responsibility of the employer to be clear about how and when social media and
networking will be permitted on company property. You don’t want your employees spending
hours a day chatting in the break room; similarly, you don’t want them wasting hours in their
office pining away on Pinterest.
Control Messaging
Another reason for creating a social media policy is to control messaging. As an employer, you
want to ensure that any online discussions taking place between employees and the public
are not negatively reflecting the public image of the company. Of course, you cannot monitor
everything your employees say and do outside of the office, but you can monitor their online
behavior.
The issue here is transparency. You do not want your employees to view you as Big Brother, but
nor do you want your employees expressing private corporate issues or airing the company’s
“dirty laundry” online. Ensuring that your employees are aware of their role in the corporate
confidentiality agreement is a good place to start when developing your social media policy.
Types of Policies
There are two basic types of social media policies: those that govern accessibility to content and
employee use, and those that govern employee behavior while online. It is ultimately up to the
employer to determine which type of policy - one, the other, or both - to put in place.
For example, your company may permit access, but you want to govern when employees may
access social networking. Perhaps you want employees to access sites like Facebook during their
down time, such as only during regularly scheduled breaks or over lunch.
Ultimately, the goal is to make sure your employees are aware that their online behavior is being
monitored. Negative comments about the company, fellow colleagues, or customers should not
be tolerated, but it is important to have this laid out in your social media policy.
It will make everyone’s life easier when you can point out the signed policy to any employee who
breaks the rules. And as in any relationship, when boundaries are set, people tend to stay and
work within them. Your employees will be happier and more productive when they know they are
being trusted and they are clear on what is expected of them.
Bottom Line
A clear and decisive social media policy helps build employer and employee confidence. When
your employees know what is expected of them, they will be happier and more productive. The flip
side of this is true as well: as an employer, you can rest assured that your team is aware of the limit-
ations and guidelines set forth by your company regarding the use of social media.
No one has ever benefited from lack of clarity, so when you are honest and upfront with your
employees about your expectations and their responsibilities, everybody wins.
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