Social media: Acceptable use guidelines

We use social media to help share information and respond to residents. Our main channels are Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

We welcome comment and suggestions from social media users.

We will not tolerate abusive or unacceptable posts on our social media channels.

We will block or mute accounts which interact with the council in an unreasonable way. We will also delete or hide posts we believe to be offensive or spreading misinformation.

The following behaviours will not be engaged with:

  • Swearing and offensive language
  • Sexism
  • Misogyny
  • Racism
  • Homophobia
  • Transphobia
  • Ageism
  • Ableism (especially prejudice against people with disabilities)
  • Intolerance of religion or religious belief
  • Inciting hate or harm (for example, discrimination based on protected characteristics)
  • False information
  • Harassment
  • Threats
  • Personal or defamatory comment about individuals, including council staff and councillors
  • Spamming with content unrelated to council business

Threats, harassment and abuse will be reported to the police.

Sharing malicious or offensive posts on social media may also be found to be an offence under the Malicious Communications Act.

We will not notify people directly when they are blocked and we will not discuss on social media the reasons for a block being put in place.

If you are blocked from interacting with the council online and believe the action taken to be in error, please contact us by email with details and we will look into what has happened. Please note, accounts that have been blocked for the above behaviours will not be interacted with by email. This does not affect your right to make a complaint.

If you are blocked from interacting with the council online and believe the action taken to be unfair you can make a complaint.

This policy is published on our website and is reviewed annually.