Protocol for work and personal use of social media
Social media has become one of the world’s most popular online activities with a wide range of platforms catering to different ages and interests. Recent research from Global WebIndex found that more than half the world now uses social media.
Followers on our own channels continue to grow making them a powerful tool to connect with local communities. We have a number of accounts that we use to provide valuable information on our work and our area to residents, businesses and visitors.
Professional and personal use
Many colleagues also use social media for professional and personal reasons. Regardless of the capacity, or the platform, all employees have responsibilities and obligations where their activity might impact the council and our reputation.
A protocol is available that sets out how social media should be used within our organisation and by the people who work for it. It also provides a clear statement for all colleagues on the expectations on them. Key points include that all employees:
- must act with due consideration for others and in accordance with their professional codes of conduct
- must not – whether using social media in a professional or personal capacity – bring the organisation into disrepute
- should act in accordance with their professional codes of conduct where applicable
The protocol links with other employee related policies including disciplinary procedures and codes, the employee code of conduct and IT acceptable use policy. It is complemented by a best practice document, which contains handy tips on how to maximise use of social media.
More information
Find the social media protocol on the intranet - from the homepage, click on the 'Communications, web, design and print' section.
A full list of our social media channels, including the rules and guidelines we follow to manage posts, is available from our website: eastlothian.gov.uk/social-media
