SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
About the Policy
Yeovil & District Canine Society has developed this policy to provide guidelines for the appropriate use of Social Media, to assist in providing a safe environment both physically and emotionally for both members, committee and officers.
Guiding Principles
We encourage all our members to show respect towards the Club’s officials, committee members, volunteers and other club members at all times, including on social media.
Yeovil & District Canine Society believe in open communication at all times and we encourage members and volunteers to contact a committee member if you would like to raise any issues or concerns.
However, there is a potential for IT, particularly Social Media, to be used inappropriately or in a manner which may be considered to be disparaging, bullying or even illegal.
To whom does the Policy apply?
This policy concerns the use of IT by officers, committee members and club members.
To what does the Policy apply?
The Policy applies to the use of Information Technology, including but not limited to:
1 Social Media
2 Email services
3 Instant messaging services
4 Text messages
5 Telephone calls
What is Social Media?
“Social Media” includes online services and tools used for publishing, sharing and discussing information. Social Media includes, but is not limited to:
- Social networking websites (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin)
- Micro-blogging sites (e.g. Twitter, Tumblr, Joomla)
- Video and photo sharing websites (eg YouTube, Flickr, instagram)
- Blogs (including weblogs, corporate blogs, personal blogs and blogs hosted by traditional media publications)
- Online forums, chat rooms and discussion boards
- Any other websites that allow individual users or companies to use simple publishing tools (e.g.
Tumblr)
What Yeovil & District canine society expects on the Club’s Website and the Club’s Official Facebook Page
The Club encourages positive informative messages including (but not limited to)
- Promotion of and information of club activities e.g. Training classes and shows.
- Promotion of and information on other Club events e.g. Shows & seminars
- Posting information of interest to members
- Acknowledge of members successes
- Posting photos e.g. of Club events
When posting messages individuals should:
- Ensure that content posted is factually accurate.
- Be courteous and respectful to club officers, members, Committee & Judges
- Be respectful of all individuals and communities with which you interact online.
- Respect copyright, privacy, financial disclosure and other applicable laws when posting content on social media
What Yeovil & District Canine Society will not accept on its Website or Official Facebook page, but not limited to:
- Posting of any content that could be considered disparaging, embarrassing, obscene, defamatory, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, libellous or hateful to another person or entity, including, but not limited to, Yeovil & District committee members , members, volunteers, and invitees e.g. stewards, judges, & patrons.
You are responsible for what you post since it is a public medium
- Be mindful: Any comments made or images, videos and photographs posted on social media platforms, irrespective of privacy settings are public remarks and can be shared, copied and distributed to a wider audience than may have been originally intended and therefore become publicly published views. There is no such thing as a ‘private’ social media site, even if you delete a post.
- Consider: If the content of the message would not be acceptable for face to face conversation then it is not acceptable for a social networking site.
Breaches of the Policy
Any complaints about breaches of this Policy will be dealt with seriously and confidentially by the Yeovil & District Canine Society Committee. Action that may be taken includes, but is not limited to, Ban from club social media pages, issuing a formal warning, withdrawal of membership from The society, information being provided to affiliate bodies i.e. Kennel Club and/or to the Police.
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