SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES

SOCSD District Social Media Account Requirements

  • Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District social media accounts are NOT permitted to include any posts, stories, photos, videos, reposts or shares containing:
    • Alcohol products
    • Tobacco products
    • Profanity
    • Nudity
    • Discriminatory content
    • Sexually inappropriate content
    • Content that is political in nature
  • Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District social media accounts may NOT follow or engage with the following:
    • Private accounts
    • Anonymous accounts
    • Student accounts
  • Posts on SOCSD social media accounts may NOT mention, tag or direct message student accounts.
  • All SOCSD social media accounts should utilize an approved district logo as a profile picture.
  • All SOCSD staff seeking to open a social media account for a district team, club, extracurricular activity, class, etc should contact the Director of Communications to discuss a content plan, review guidelines and obtain authorization.
  • SOCSD staff who maintain social media accounts are required to provide the Director of Communications with login credentials OR add the Director as a Facebook administrator with full access rights.
  • Students should not administer or manage district social media accounts.

Social Media Reminders for Users & Managers

  • Social media privacy is a myth.
    Remember that the ability to screenshot can make any post public.
     
  • On social media, the separation of personal and professional is a myth.
    What you post on your personal account will reflect positively or negatively on any professional or district account you manage and can impact your ability to do your job effectively. That's just how the world works.
     
  • Social media has a long shelf life.
    Posts that may seem insignificant today can easily follow you or one of our students for years to come and negatively impact their opportunities.
     
  • Lead by example.
    All communications representing the district should model positive social media behavior as part of the SOCSD commitment to creating a positive school culture.
     
  • Live up to, not live down.
    We leave a digital footprint for each student, colleague or community member that's pictured or described in a social post. Make sure it's something they want to live up to, not live down.
     
  • Follow the Thumper Rule.
    If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Don't air grievances on social media. Period.
     
  • Don't feed the trolls.
    Don't allow someone to hijack YOUR message. If you encounter negative or "trolling" responses to any of your posts, ignore rather than engage.
     
  • Your social media behavior will reflect on others.
    What you do on any social media account (whether personal or district account) WILL be associated with your job and by extension, with the district at large. Be mindful of what you "like", who you follow, and the memes or imagery you choose in your posts.
     
  • Take every threat of violence or self harm seriously.
    Don't engage. Screenshot the post/comment and report to the Director of Communications or the Security Chief immediately.