Police social media policy

I don’t pull any punches about this topic.  When it comes to social media use by police services and law enforcement agencies I am not a huge supporter of social media policy creation.  That’s not to say that I don’t understand the desire and need for polices to be created and put in place, it’s just that often, it’s one of those over-kill things when it comes to social media.

“We’re saved! We have a policy”

When you are thinking about a policy, here are a couple of questions to ask yourself:

1. Do we have a policy that presently covers employee conduct?
2. Do we have a policy that presently covers communications?
3. Do we have a policy that presently covers use of technology? (Internet / equipment / intranet)
4. Do we have a policy that presently covers duties / responsibilities?

I’m going to bet that you’ve answered Yes to all of those questions so tell me again why you need a policy for social media?  Or, maybe you just need to add new and emerging technologies to your existing policies…it’s probably a lot less work.

When discussing policy creation I’ll always ask a simple question.

“Do you have a guideline or best practices document to help your members understand the tools, the functions and the expectations of their work?”

The reality is:

• Policies police
• Guidelines guide
• Policies handcuff
• Guidelines help

Sure some policies are an absolute essential requirement for no other reason that historically from what I can’t tell, they are in place to address things that have gone wrong.  And no doubt, the person who did wrong said something like, “I wouldn’t have done it if there was a policy saying that I couldn’t.”

If a policy is what you are depending on making your social media presence better and safer, your problem isn’t that you don’t have a policy…your problem is your people.

So, in honour of those that desire policies and to satisfy that reality that there are times a policy is required, I give you the definitive social media policy…feel free to use it!

SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

Prior to engaging, posting, sharing or entering the social streams the following must be adhered to by all members representing the agency while on duty or off duty.

1. Don’t be an idiot.
2. Don’t do anything stupid.
3. Always consider, what is the worst thing that could possibly happen?

If you are unsure that any action you are considering falls under one of three preceding points, walk away from the technology.

The End