(A) The city may utilize social media and social network sites to further communicate with citizens.
(B) The city's social media sites' purpose is to disseminate information from the city and to encourage discussion of city issues, operations, and services by providing members of the public the opportunity to participate through various platforms.
(C) For purposes of this policy, “social media” is understood to be content created by individuals using the internet. Examples of social media include Facebook, blogs, Instagram, RSS, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedln, and Flickr.
(D) For purposes of this policy, “comments” include information; articles; pictures; videos; or any other form of communicative content posted on the city's social media site.
(E) The establishment and use by any city department of city social media sites are subject to approval by the City Commission or their designee.
(F) City social media sites should clearly state they are maintained by the city and that they follow the city's Social Media Policy. All social media sites shall clearly indicate that any content posted or submitted for posting is subject to public disclosure.
(G) The site should adhere to all applicable state, federal, and local laws, regulations, and policies including city information technology and records management policies.
(H) The designated coordinator of the social media site will monitor content on the social media site to ensure adherence to both the city's Social Media Policy and the interest and goals of the city. The city reserves the right to restrict, or remove, any content that is deemed in violation of this Social Media Policy or any applicable law. Any content removed, based on these guidelines, must be retained by the designated coordinator as determined by the Email and Communications Retention Policy in Appendix C to the Employee Handbook, including the time, date, and identity of the poster, when available.
(I) The city's website is https://cityofmiddletownky.org and will remain the city's primary and predominant internet presence. All city social media sites shall have the government's contact information prominently displayed. Whenever possible, the city's social media sites should link back to the city's official website for forms, documents, online services, and other information necessary to conduct business with the city.
(J) All social networking coordinators shall be trained regarding the terms of the Social Media Policy, including their responsibilities to review content submitted for posting to ensure compliance with the policy. When possible, the city's IT security policies shall apply to all social networking sites and articles.
(K) Employees representing the city via the city's social media sites must always conduct themselves as a representative of the city and in accordance with all city policies. Employees, as governmental employees, must be mindful that they should refrain from posting content on social media which reflects negatively on their employer or disparages any protected class or group.
(L) The city will post the following on any social media page in a conspicuous location:
“Comments placed on the social media site are subject to the following guidelines:
(1) The city, as a public entity, must abide by certain standards to serve all its constituents in a civil and unbiased manner.
(2) The city's social media sites prohibit the posting of content and/or comments containing any of the following:
(a) Comments not topically related to the site or blog article being commented upon;
(b) Profane language or content;
(c) Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination based on race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected class status;
(d) Sexual content or links to sexual content;
(e) Solicitations of commerce;
(f) Conduct, or encouragement, of illegal activity;
(g) Threats of violence or to public safety;
(h) Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public;
(i) Comments posted by automatic software programs; or
(j) Content that violates the legal ownership interest of any other party.
(k) The city reserves the right to deny access to the city's social media sites for any individual who violates the city's Social Media Policy, at any time and without prior notice.”
(M) Departments within the city shall monitor their social media sites for comments requesting responses from the city and for comments in violation of this policy.
(N) When a city employee responds to a comment in their city employee capacity, the employee's name and title shall be made available, and the employee shall not share personal information about themselves or other city employees.
(O) All comments posted to any city social media site are bound by the Social Media's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, and the city reserves the right to report any violation to the social media site with the intent being that the social media site takes appropriate and reasonable responsive action.
(Ord. 5-11-2023-A, passed 6-8-2023)