Online
Journal Entry 4
PART (1)
What is the
aim of social media policy?
Who is
covered by a social media policy?
Why should we
use a social media policy?
A
social media policy will contain the particular organisation’s rules in
relation to social media. It will inform staff about using
social media so they feel empowered to participate, while being mindful of
their responsibilities and obligations under their organisational values and
code of conduct. Social media are online services and tools used for
publishing, sharing and discussing information. They include forums, blogs,
wikis, social networking websites that allow individual
users to easily upload and share content.
5 points on why
organisations will use a social media policy
1. A Social
Media Guideline should be created.
With
reference to the Australian Government websites (Australian Government [AG],
2012 & 2010), a guideline will provide support for the application of the Social
Media Policy. It will show how to use social media on behalf of the organisation.
2. Social
media tools are used to build more meaningful relationships with customers,
communities and stakeholders.
Making
public comment online is becoming increasingly common for employees in
official, professional, and private capacities. Using social media tools at work where staff
are able are encouraged to share ideas and information through blogs and wikis
run by the organisation for the purposes of work collaboration.
3. Breaches
of the policy
Breach
of this policy will be dealt with in accordance with the organisations employment
agreement and may lead to disciplinary action include possible termination of
employment. As a staff of any organisation implementing a social media policy,
the working party needs to ensure staffs behaviour, must be in line with the code
of conduct and values of the organisation. It is important to understand that
failure to adhere can result in a range of sanctions
including reprimands, reduction in classification and termination of employment.
4. The role
of the Digital Media Section is to monitor social media.
All
organisations will have to establish a Digital Media Section who will
responsible to monitor and manage the social media online services. Where necessary, staff will be contacted to
discuss their behaviour online or a person’s manager may also be contacted by
the digital media section during a breach of social media policy.
5. Three
standards on social media policy
In
the Australian Broadcasting Commission website (Australian Broadcasting
Commission [ABC], 2012), enforces these 3 standards as and when appropriate
which apply to work and personal use of interactive services, by staff at any time.
1.
Do not mix the professional and the personal in ways likely to bring the
organisation into disrepute
2.
Do not undermine your effectiveness at work.
3.
Do not disclose confidential information obtained through work.
PART II
What to
advice staff using social media web 2.0 tools doing personal work on organisation
computer and time?
Generally
staff are to use work technologies for work related use and not for personal
use. If staff wish to use social media both for work and privately, they should
create separate profiles for each it will be recommended employees maintain
separate social media profiles. This makes it easier for people to manage the
boundary between their role as a public servant and their private life. Staff
need to be careful about the material they post on their personal profile as
well as any work profile.
The
organisations’ guidelines treat employees’ personal use of social media at work
in a manner consistent with other internet access, which is covered by existing
IT department usage policies and broader code of conduct. These polices and code of conduct indicate
that work technologies should only be used by employees for work use and
personal work should be done in personal time and not in work time.
As
per the Australian Government website (Australian Government [AG], 2012), their
guidelines recognise the difference between personal and work-related use of
social media by distinguishing between three different kinds of social media accounts
employees of an organisation should have-
1.
Official accounts used when employees are commenting in their capacity as a staff
2.
Professional accounts for when employees comment in a personal capacity but
also in light of their expertise in a given field – the guidelines give the
example of an accountant working at Finance who comments on an accounting blog.
3.
Personal accounts for non-work-related use which does not fall under either of
the above two categories.
References
ABC. Use of
social media policy. (2012). Retrieved from
Australian Government. Department of
Human Services. Social Media Policy for
departmental staff (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/site-information/social-media-policy
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/site-information/social-media-policy
Australian
Government. Government 2.0 planning and governance. (2012). Retrieved from
Australian
Government. Social media how to. (2010). Retrieved from
