Think of your social media guidelines as a living document, not something you carve into stone. The social world just moves way too fast for a “set it and forget it” approach. As you start pulling together your own social media guidelines, you’ll inevitably run into a few common questions. Getting the answers right from the start is the difference between a guide that sits on a virtual shelf and one that actually gets used every day. By defining these platform-specific approaches, you’re giving your team the tools to create content that doesn’t just look on-brand but feels right for the environment. That’s how you get people to stop scrolling and actually connect with what you have to say.

Tailoring Your Strategy For Key Platforms

Employers should consider offering designated break times for personal social media use to avoid distractions and maintain productivity. Social media can be a useful tool for networking, learning, and staying informed, but it’s important to keep personal social media use to a minimum during work hours. While it’s acceptable to check personal accounts during breaks, excessive social media usage during work hours can lead to distractions, decreased productivity, and even security risks. When engaging in online activities related to work—whether you’re representing the company or simply discussing work-related topics—it’s essential to maintain professional conduct at all times.

Personal Social Media Use And Communication With Personal Contact Information

This ensures that all employees understand the potential impact of their actions online and are motivated to maintain a professional and respectful online presence. Company resources, including devices, internet access, and social media accounts, are provided to employees for work-related tasks. Personal use of social media during working hours should be limited to break times and should not interfere with productivity. Misuse of company resources for non-work-related social media activity may result in disciplinary action. Social media is a powerful tool that can shape perceptions, build networks, and influence public opinion.

Add quick links to documents like the company’s code of conduct, mission and values, employee agreements and privacy policies. These direct the employees in the right direction and prevent them from going astray while posting online. Oracle’s social media participation policy documents how social media is used as a business, but its employee code of conduct and business ethics touch on how employees can engage in personal social media. Walmart is dedicated to its social media accounts and believes in social media as an avenue for customer service. Its social media policy mentions all the networks it has a presence on, zeroes in on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram.

Social Media Professional Development

Implementation gives it life, translating words into tangible actions. Having a meticulously crafted social media policy is a commendable first step. But if employees aren’t aware of the guidelines or don’t understand their significance, they’re likely to unknowingly violate them. For instance, a few years back, TikTok wasn’t on most brands’ radars. Fast forward to today, and it’s a powerhouse platform that demands its own set of guidelines.