MAKE YOUR FREE Social media policy

A social media policy is a document outlining the rules on the use of social media at work. It explains to employees how the use of social media accounts is to be regulated and the consequences of breaching this policy. 

Make sure you are clear and detailed when outlining the rules on social media use at work with this social media policy. Employees will need to know the extent to which using social media accounts is permitted at work and what the consequences are if they breach this policy. 

This social media policy also covers important legal issues that could arise for the company including confidentiality, defamation, and intellectual property infringement as well personal liability of the employee. Protect your company and your employees with this social media policy template.

This document is GDPR compliant.

Use this social media policy template to:

• explain to employees the rules about their use of social media at work

Find out more about employees and social media.

This social media policy covers:

• the extent to which use of personal social media accounts is permitted while at work
• limits and guidance on the use of social media accounts (whether inside or outside work)
• use of social media accounts in the employer's name
• guidance on the types of legal issues arising on use of social media including confidentiality, intellectual property infringement, defamation, bullying and harassment
• employees personal liability in connection with the use of social media
• prohibited uses of social media
• monitoring of social media use
• press queries for inclusion on social media accounts
• adding business contacts to personal social media accounts
• the consequences of breaching the social media policy

You need a social media policy to inform your employees about what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour when using social media. This policy provides guidance on the use of social media including respecting intellectual property, privacy and confidentiality.

It also sets out what is expressly prohibited, for example, any communication which is offensive, or insulting. This policy also sets out who is responsible for responding to media enquiries, and who has general responsibility for this policy.

This policy allows you to choose whether you want to permit employees to use social media in the workplace. It may be the case that some employees need to use social media as part of their role and in this policy, you can allow just these people to access social media at work, or you can allow all employees to use social media at work.

Yes. This policy sets out what employees should expect when using IT systems owned by the employer. This includes monitoring, intercepting and reading of any communication, document, conversation or post.

An employee may be subject to disciplinary action for unacceptable breaches of social media policy.

Ask a lawyer for:

• changing an existing social media policy that is contractually binding
• employment issues resulting from employees' use of social media outside work

This social media policy is governed by the law of England and Wales or the law of Scotland.