Social Media

Social Media Policy

 PURPOSE:

  • Sunderland Parent Carer Forum (SPCF) recognise that the use of networking sites is a growing phenomenon and is increasingly used as a communication tool now by many more people. The use of social media provides many opportunities to improve the way we communicate reach out and interact with people and other groups.
  • With the development of our own Facebook page and Twitter account, it has highlighted that whilst these technologies provide exciting opportunities, they are accompanied by dangers and negative consequences, if abused by users.
  • This policy will provide guidelines for acceptable use, not only for our own Website, Facebook page and Twitter account, but all on-line social networking communications as they relate to SPCF.

 POLICY:

This policy is intended to help the SPCF steering group, non-regional representatives and employees (i.e. anyone who is a representative, has a role or is employed by SPCF) make appropriate decisions about the use of email, conventional mail; social media including (but is not limited to):

  • blogs, wikis, social networking websites, podcasts, forums, message boards or comments on web-articles, such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ Flickr, YouTube, etc. This includes the SPCF website and any other relevant social media.

This policy outlines the standards the steering group, non-regional representatives and employees must observe when using SPCF social media. SPCF accept that the use of email and all social media is a valuable communication tool.

Use of SPCF signatory’s, logo, email, conventional mail and all social media formats by the steering group, non-regional representatives or employees of SPCF are permitted and encouraged where such use supports the goals and objectives of SPCF. However use of the SPCF signatory, logo must not be used when undertaking local forum or personal activity.

Misuse of this facility can have a negative impact upon the steering group, non-regional representatives and employee’s productivity, morale and the reputation of SPCF. They should only be used in connection with SPCF regional and national business to do with and including meetings, events or keynote speaking.

Whenever such representatives and employees use SPCF social media, even for personal messages, they do so as SPCF representatives. They must ensure that they:

  • comply with current legislation
  • do not create unnecessary risk to SPCF by their misuse of the internet
  • do not represent personal views as the views of SPCF

SPCF reserves the right to remove, edit, or otherwise alter content deemed inappropriate for any reason, without notification.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR

The following behaviour by a SPCF steering group representative, non- regional representative or employee is considered unacceptable:

  • use of SPCF communications systems to set up personal businesses or send chain letters
  • forwarding of SPCF confidential messages to external locations
  • distributing, disseminating or storing images, text or materials that might be considered indecent, pornographic, obscene or illegal use of email, conventional Mail and all social media formats in an acceptable way
  • distributing, disseminating or storing images, text or materials that might be considered discriminatory, offensive, abusive, bully or intimidate in that the context is a personal attack, sexist, racist or might be considered as harassment
  • accessing copyright information in a way that violates the copyright breaking into the SPCF system or unauthorized use of a password/mailbox
  • broadcasting unsolicited personal views on social, political, religious or other nonbusiness related matters
  • transmitting unsolicited commercial or advertising material
  • undertaking deliberate activities that waste representatives effort or networked resources
  • Introducing any form of computer virus or malware into the corporate network