FAQ: Navigating Social Media As a Professional Or Volunteer

FAQ: Navigating Social Media as a Professional or Volunteer All questions and answers apply to the work of BBYO staff and advisors

Q. Should I have two Facebook accounts? A. Facebook does not allow the creation of multiple accounts for one person. If you don’t have two accounts yet, do not create a second one; adjust your account with the appropriate privacy settings, as outlined in this document.

Q. Can I friend teens in my region or other regions? A. You should not actively seek out, or friend, teens in your region or BBYO at large. If you maintain one account, and a teen (currently in high school and engaged with BBYO) or their parent friends you, you can accept their friendship and categorize them within a privacy protected group. If you maintain two accounts, and a teen (currently in high school and engaged with BBYO) or their parent friends you, you can accept their friendship only on your professional account.

After teens graduate, you should use your discretion in choosing to transition that relationship to your personal account, or to remove the privacy setting.

Q. As a BBYO Professional or Advisor, what am I responsible for? A. BBYO Professionals and Advisors can only be accountable for what is considered an official space.

Q. What if I see something on a page that is inappropriate in any way? A. BBYO Professionals & Advisors reserve the right to delete a post on the official page at any time if it is deemed offensive or inappropriate. If a BBYO Professional or Advisor sees inappropriate content on a teen owned, or organic group or event space, the professional can and should ask the teen to remove it.

Q. What are the consequences to a teen who posts inappropriate content on Facebook or Twitter? A. After the offending content has been deleted the behavior should be addressed by the BBYO Professional directly with the teen and the consequences should align with the consequences outlined in the AZA and BBG Behavioral Contracts and Codes of Conduct.

Q. Should I be checking in on or policing the Facebook groups teens create? A. No. BBYO Professionals or Advisors are not asked or expected to monitor the organically created groups or pages created by teens.

Q. Is there anything I can’t say online as a BBYO Professional or Advisor? A. Whether you’re posting on an Official Page or from your personal profile, you’re representing BBYO and are considered on the record. It is not uncommon for reporters to quote an organization’s tweets or blog posts without obtaining permission or alerting the organization. Seek the same approvals that you would in dealing with the traditional press, particularly if you are sharing new information or responding to criticism.’ Best Practices: Using Social Media as a BBYO Professional or Advisor

BBYO Professional and Advisor Use of Social Media Communicating on a social media platform on behalf of BBYO or on an official or unofficial BBYO related or affiliated project, or on a personal profile.  Be Smart: You are personally responsible for any content that you publish on social media platforms, so use good judgment.  Be Transparent: Identify yourself and your role at BBYO, transparency builds credibility.  Be Non-Partisan: If you disagree with a program, campaign, or BBYO affiliations discuss your concerns privately with your colleagues, not publicly. If you’re not sure about BBYO’s positions, ask or don’t comment.  Be Thoughtful: Do nothing that would risk the privacy or safety of the volunteers, professionals and teens you work with, especially when posting a photo or quote.  Respect Copyrights & Confidentiality: Only post things you have permission to post. Make sure you have permission to post any copyrighted (e.g. images, logos) or potentially confidential information.  Be Accurate: Even though you may be expressing a personal opinion, do your research and source your information.  Be Gracious: When you make a mistake, correct it. Handle your mistake with grace and transparency by acknowledging your error.  Be Generous: Social media is, at its base, social. Share, connect, and provide links to interesting things going on, both at BBYO and beyond.

Expect people to see you as a representative of BBYO, especially if you discuss mission related issues or your work. To avoid misunderstanding:

When in doubt, don’t push send. On the Internet, everything lasts forever.

If you have questions, consult your manager, the Marketing Department or Human Resources.