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39.0 SOCIAL MEDIA Page 1 of 5 EDGEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER # 39.0 SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY Effective Date: October 30, 2010 The purpose of this policy is to outline expectations of personnel with respect to their use of social media and social networking and the direct effect such use has upon the reputation and perception of the agency. This policy shall consist of the following numbered sections: I. Scope II. Definitions III. General I. Scope A. Each member of the agency embodies the agency mission. It is v ital that all agency personnel accept their role as ambassadors of the agency, striving to maintain public trust and confidence, not only in their professional actions, but also in their personal and online actions on and off duty. B. Any online activity that has the effect of diminishing the public’s trust and/or confidence in the agency will hinder the efforts of the agency to fulfill the agency’s mission. C. By virtue of their employment with the agency, and particularly for those sworn officers, by virtue of their position as law enforcement officers, agency personnel are held to a higher standard than the general public. Agency personnel’s online activities should reflect such professional expectations and standards. Any online actions taken by agency members that detracts from the mission of the agency, or reflect negatively on the professionalism of the individual agency members will be viewed as a direct violation of this policy. D. The U.S. Supreme Court in the ir 2006 decision in the case of Garcetti v. Ceballos has held that statements made by public employees pursuant to their official duties are not protected by the First Amendment from employer discipline. Agency employees should be cognizant of t he fact that they are responsible for, and may be held accountable for any and all conversations, chats, postings, etc. made by them relating to their employment. II. Definitions A. Social Media 39.0 SOCIAL MEDIA Page 2 of 5 A variety of on -line sources that allow people to c ommunicate, share information, share photos, share videos, share audio and exchange text and/or other multimedia files with others via some form of online or cellular network platform. B. Social Networking The use of internet or mobile format s (i.e. Facebook , Twitter, MySpace, etc.), online forums, message boards or bulletin boards, blogs and other similarly developed formats to communicate with others using the same groups while also networking with other users based upon similar int erests, geographical location, skills, occupation, ideology, beliefs, etc. C. Mobile Social Networking Social networking using a mobile phone, computer or other cellular based device D. Internet A computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network of protocols to facilitate data transmission exchange E. World Wide Web Computer network consisting of a collection of internet sites that offe r text and graphics and sound and animation resources through the hypertext transfer protocol F. Blog A series of entries written by either one person or a group of people, in an on - line journal, usually posted in chronological order, like a di ary G. Blogging To read, write or edit a shared online journal. Blogging can also encompass the act of commenting, and engaging with other commenters, on any blog, including one operated by a third party H. Post An item inserted to a blog, or an entry to any type of computerized bulleting board or forum I. Posting The act of creating, uploading, editing or adding to any social media outlet. This includes text, photographs, audio, video or any other multimedia file J. Forum An onli ne discussion site K. Comments Responses to a blog post, news article, social media entry or other social networking post L. Commenting The act of creating and posting a response to a blog post, news article, social media entry or other social networking post. Commenting can also entail the act of posting an original composition to an unrelated post or article M. Avatar 39.0 SOCIAL MEDIA Page 3 of 5 A computer user’s presentation of himself/herself or an alter ego N. Identity An online identity, internet identity o r internet persona that a social networking user establishes. This can be a real name, an alias, a pseudonym or a creative description O. Handle The name of one’s online identity that is used most frequently. It can also be the name of one’s Twitter identity P. User Name The name provided by the participant during the registration process associated with a web site that will be displayed publicly on the site III. General A. Agency personnel shall be aware of the fact that the use of agency e -mail, internet, cell phone and computer resources may be monitored. Even though limited personal use of agency computer resources may be permitted, personnel should not expect th at electronic communications they make utilizing agency resources are private and/or confidential. The State of Florida has very broad public records and record retention laws and virtually all communications made utilizing agency electronic med ia is subject to the provisions of these laws. B. Agency personnel shall not use any form of social media or social networking, including, but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Gowalla Police Pulse, The Squad Room, Usenet Groups, online forums, message boards or bulletin boards,