To: Board of Supervisors
From: Internal Operations Committee
Report Title: Updates to the County's Social Media Policy
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE changes to the County's Social Media Policy, last updated in August 2023, as summarized below and in Attachments 1 (no mark-up) and 2 (mark-up), and DIRECT the County Administrator to promulgate the updated policy:
Proposed Changes to the Social Media Policy
Rationale for Changes
Define direct messaging and allow its disabling
To avoid receiving inappropriate content
Clarify advertising guidelines
To prevent perceived endorsements
Allow personal accounts for page management, in compliance with the administrative requirements of most social media platforms
To improve authenticity and access
Ensure archiving of records
To comply with retention requirements
Allow departments the discretion to disable of comments for safety
To protect employees from harassment and reduce mis- and disinformation
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
Social media is optional for departments but serves as a valuable communication tool. The Board of Supervisors approved the County's first Social Media Policy in June 2014, updated in August 2023. This policy promotes consistency across over 100 county accounts on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter (X), NextDoor, and YouTube, while allowing departmental flexibility. It offers guidance on content, emergency use, public forum commenting, and records retention. The Board requests annual updates on the Social Media Policy. The Office of Communication and Media (OCM) worked with department public information officers and Department Heads to review and update the policy.
On September 22, 2025, OCM Director Kristi Jourdan presented proposed revisions to the Social Media Policy to the Internal Operations Committee. The updates incorporate definitions of new terminology and offer clarification or ...
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