Town of Greensboro
Social Media Policy
Purpose
This policy establishes guidelines for the creation and use of the Town of Greensboro’s social media sites, including but not limited to Facebook, for work related purposes as a means of sharing Town information to its citizens. The Town recognizes social media has a direct connection to freedom of speech. This policy is intended to respect the first
amendment and to provide guidance for administration. The Town intends and expects that it is creating a limited public forum in providing for and allowing the use of the Town’s social media sites by the public. General Provisions
A. The establishment and use by any Town department or agency of Town social media sites are subject to approval by the Town Manager. Town social media sites shall make clear that they are maintained by the Town and that they follow the Town's social media policy, as set forth herein, and bear the name and/or official logo of the Town. Wherever possible, Town social media sites should link back to the official Town website for forms, documents, online services, and other information necessary to conduct business with the Town. The Town Manager or designee will monitor content on Town social media sites to ensure adherence to this Policy and the best interests of the Town. The Town reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of this chapter or any applicable law. Any content removed based on this chapter shall be retained by the Town Manager for a reasonable period of time, and shall include the time, date, and identity of the individual posting such content, if and when available. The Town's social media policy, as set forth herein, must be displayed to users of Town social media sites or made available via hyperlink. The Town's website shall remain the Town's primary and predominant Internet presence. All Town social media sites shall adhere to applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies. I. Town social media sites are subject to the Maryland Public Information Act. Any content maintained in a social media format that is related to Town business, including a list of subscribers, posted communication, and communication submitted for posting may be a public record subject to public disclosure. J. Content relative to topics or issues not within the jurisdictional purview of the Town may
be removed. K. Municipal officers and employees representing the Town via Town social media sites must
conduct themselves at all times as a representative of the Town and in accordance with all
Town laws, regulations, and policies. Any municipal officer or employee who fails to so
conduct him/herself may be subject to applicable disciplinary action. Content Policy
A. As a governmental entity, the Town must abide by certain standards to serve all its
constituents in a civil and unbiased manner. The intended purpose behind establishing Town social media sites is to disseminate
information from and about the Town. Content consisting of any of the following shall not be permitted on Town social media
sites and is subject to removal and/or restriction:
a. Content not related to the original topic, including content that is random or
unintelligible;
b. Profane, obscene, violent, or pornographic content and/or language;
c. Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race,
creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or
mental disability, or national origin;
d. Defamatory or personal attacks;
e. Threats to any person or organization;
f. Content in support of, or in opposition to, any political campaigns or ballot
measures;
g. Solicitation of commerce, including but not limited to advertising of any business
or product for sale;
h. Content in violation of any federal, state, or local law;
i. Encouragement of illegal activity;
j. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or
public systems; or
k. Content that violates a legal ownership interest, such as a copyright, of any party. The Town reserves the right to deny access to Town social media sites for any individual
who violates any provision of this Policy at any time and without prior notice. Disclaimers. A. Each and every member of the public accessing, browsing, and using any Town social media site accepts, without limitation or qualification, the terms and conditions set forth herein. Content posted by a member of the public on any Town social media site is the responsibility and opinion of the individual posting such content, and publication thereof does not imply endorsement of or agreement by, nor necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of, the Town, the Mayor and Council, or any other municipal officer or employee. By virtue of posting content on a Town social media site, the individual posting such content agrees that he/she has no expectation of privacy in the content provided. The Town assumes no liability for any inaccuracies the Town's social media sites may contain and does not guarantee that its social media sites will be uninterrupted, permanent, or error-free. The Town has no control over and does not endorse a third-party site's policies or any content, advertisements, or other postings that appear on the Town's social media sites as part of the site's environment. Communications made through Town social media sites shall in no way constitute legal or official notice or comment to the Town. By way of example, and not limitation, a post or comment that requests public records shall not be considered to be a public records request under the Maryland Public Information Act.
