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Social Networking Policy - Do you have or need one?

Do you have a Social Netwoking Policy? In Colleton County, a South Carolina paramedic and firefighter was fired earlier this month because of a video he posted on Facebook. Brown’s situation is similar to an increasing number of disciplinary actions being taken against firefighters for social networking. The case shows the challenge that fire service leaders and firefighters face in dealing with social media issues. What appears to be uncontroverted is that Brown created an animated video at a web site, xtranormal.com, on which you can create cartoon-like characters, type in a script, and the characters will speak in a robotic-like language. The video involved two characters, a white firefighter and a black doctor, set in the emergency department of a hospital.  

 

There are thousands of social networking sites other than Facebook, Twitter, My Space, Linkedin, with some of the thousands to inlcude: Advogato, Amie Street, ANobii, aSmallWorld, Athlinks , The Auteurs, Avatars United, BabyCenter, Badoo, Bebo, Bigadda, BigTent, Biip, BlackPlanet, Blogster, Bolt.com, Books iRead, Buzznet, CafeMom, Cake Financial, Care2, Cellufun, Classmates.com, Cloob, CollegeBlender, CouchSurfing, DailyBooth, DailyStrength, Decayenne, deviantART, DigitalVerse.org, Disaboom, Dol2day, DontStayIn, Draugiem.lv, Elftown, Epernicus, Eons.com, Experience Project, Exploroo, Facebook, Faceparty, Faces.com, Fetlife, Fillos de Galicia, FilmAffinity, FledgeWing, Flixster, Flickr, Fotolog, Foursquare, Friends Reunited, Friendster, Frühstückstreff, Fubar, Gaia Online, GamerDNA, Gather.com, Gays.com, Geni.com, Gogoyoko, Goodreads, Google Buzz, Gossipreport.com, Grono.net, Habbo, hi5, Hospitality Club, Hyves, Ibibo LinkedIn, Listography, LiveJournal, Meetup.com, and Meettheboss.   

 

Is a policy needed? Most certainly. Do you have one that you are willing to share? Please do.

 

Twitter with caution

 

Be Safe

 

John

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John K. Murphy on March 9, 2010 at 11:35pm
Funny - how true and what a great movie

Larry Lasich said:
My orders came through. My squadron ships out tomorrow. We're bombing the storage depots at Daiquiri at 1800 hours. We're coming in from the north, below their radar.

When will you be back?

I can't tell you that. It's classified.
Airplane!
Permalink Reply by Justin Lewis on August 7, 2010 at 3:17pm
I run a video blog and I'm very careful to not put any company logos anywhere or talk about anything or anybody...I enjoy my freedom of speech but I really enjoy my department and my job! It should be common sense in this area...but common sense is usually the least common thing!
Permalink Reply by John K. Murphy on August 8, 2010 at 9:27am
Excellent points - common sense is not all that common

Be safe

John

Justin Lewis said:
I run a video blog and I'm very careful to not put any company logos anywhere or talk about anything or anybody...I enjoy my freedom of speech but I really enjoy my department and my job! It should be common sense in this area...but common sense is usually the least common thing!
Permalink Reply by Christopher Drake on August 8, 2010 at 11:45am
While I'm a frequent poster on Facebook, and new to the FE Training Community, I have made it a personal policy to only post items referring to my department or incidents which bring credit to it. We all have issues within our department which may irk us. However, social networking sites are not the place to work them out. This is especially true of personnel conflicts or disagreements with command, the city, or the rules & regulations in place.

Most importantly, we have to protect the citizens not just from hazards at an incident, but also any personally-identifying information which may bring embarassment on them.

As for my time on-duty, I usually don't use Facebook or any other social network. We've had instances where firefighters have been logged on and left the station without logging out. You can only imagine what kind of fun firefighters have with an open Facebook account which isn't theirs'.
Permalink Reply by Mike France on August 9, 2010 at 8:44am
The question i rasie is this with social networking do we have the right to punish a member who makes comments regarding other members and or the dept. /

Could you send me a copy of one , we currently do not i would be interested in forwarding to my Board.
Permalink Reply by John K. Murphy on August 9, 2010 at 6:13pm
Can do

Mike France said:
The question i rasie is this with social networking do we have the right to punish a member who makes comments regarding other members and or the dept. /

Could you send me a copy of one , we currently do not i would be interested in forwarding to my Board.
Permalink Reply by John K. Murphy on August 10, 2010 at 9:50am
For Social Media Policies, take a look at the list available at the link below. If you want to pick and chose, this is about as comprehensive as you are going to get.

You may have to cut and paste the website below.

http://www.compliancebuilding.com/about/publications/social-media-p...

Be safe
Permalink Reply by Ed Huff on August 20, 2010 at 10:33am
John,
We are having alot of the same issues with social networking as many other departments are having. Can you send me any info that you may have, like you sent Mike Fance?

John K. Murphy said:
Can do

Mike France said:
The question i rasie is this with social networking do we have the right to punish a member who makes comments regarding other members and or the dept. /

Could you send me a copy of one , we currently do not i would be interested in forwarding to my Board.
Permalink Reply by John K. Murphy on August 20, 2010 at 11:29am
Ed,

Here is a great link for Social Media Policies. I have not created one but this is from many different industries in managing this issue. Go to:

http://www.compliancebuilding.com/about/publications/social-media-p...


Be safe

John

Ed Huff said:
John,
We are having alot of the same issues with social networking as many other departments are having. Can you send me any info that you may have, like you sent Mike Fance?

John K. Murphy said:
Can do

Mike France said:
The question i rasie is this with social networking do we have the right to punish a member who makes comments regarding other members and or the dept. /

Could you send me a copy of one , we currently do not i would be interested in forwarding to my Board.

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