The Moultrie Observer, in Moultrie Georgia published an article today highlighting the use of social media, mainly Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, by city employees. Mike Scott, the city manager, added an amendment to human resources department policy pertaining to this matter. He explained it is now policy for employees to watch what they say and post on their personal social media websites.
Scott stated, “It is the policy of the City of Moultrie that employees may use social media technologies,” according to the policy. “However, it is the responsibility of employees to ensure that such use does not cause a decline in public confidence in and/or respect for the city or the individual employee. Employees must exercise appropriate discretion, so as to not discredit the city or themselves as employees.”
Very interesting to me that this even needs to be an amendment added to a human resource policy for a city. I guess it proves the power of the Internet and social media in our times. The main concern being once something is put out there, there's no taking it back...and they don't want any bad reflections on the city. What do you guys think about it?
Clearly we have devised a new form of speech that is different from anything else we have had in the past. Twittering, blogging, and Facebook entries have consequences and repercussions not only for current employment, but future employment as well. Besides making a statement on national TV, no other form of speech or writing has ever been this consequential before. I suppose you could say something outrageous in a traditional letter to the editor of a newspaper or magazine, but that writing always passed through an editorial filter. The moral of the story is that if you are going to be your own publisher, you need to do a good job of being your own editor.
ReplyDelete