(Jan 2014)
Hong Kong Red Cross
Guidelines on Personal Use of Social Media
for staff, committee members,members and volunteers
Introduction
1.Social media tools have been widely used nowadays. While whether to use social media for external communication can be a personal decision, the nature of social media networks has made separation of private-public use or agency-personal capacity not always possible. There are concerns over how the opinions or visuals appear in individual HKRC stakeholders’ social media communications may have impact – both positively or negatively - on the Red Cross.
2.These guidelinesonly apply to social media communications that may be perceived by any external parties of reasonable-mind as representing HKRC stance, or reflecting on the image or reputation of HKRC or the Red Cross Movement.
3.Who These Guidelines Are For
3.1These guidelines are applicable to all staff members (including staff of schools and BTS), committee members, members and volunteers of HKRC.
3.2If you are using social media tools (such asFacebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Google+, blogs, Weibo, LinkedIn, chatroom) to post or share your views, photos, visuals; or to post comments on other people’s social media page; or to share other people’s social media page contents, these guidelines are for you.
4.DOs
4.1Consider all your social media communicationspublic—Anything you published online can be accessed by anyone within seconds, found through search engines, and stay in public domain for years to come. Even materials with supposedly limited accessamong “friends”can end up being shared widely. Complete deletion of such information is difficult and time-consuming. Thus, you should consider even personal conversation within social media networks public.As a general rule of thumb, do not say anything you wouldn’t say in a crowded room full of strangers.
4.2Use a disclaimer—If you talk about issues related to HKRC, or your profile stated your HKRC connection, add a short disclaimer, like “The views expressed are my own and not representative of those held by HKRC.”
4.3Observe the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross Movement—if your discussion is related to the Red Cross, do not violate: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, Universality.
4.4Respect privacy—Respect people’s right to privacy and the dignity of the people portrayed. Don’t take or upload photo/video, or tag people in it, without their permission, since some people may not want to be identified on some visuals.
5.DON’Ts
5.1Do not use the emblems—You cannot use the HKRC/ International Red Cross emblems in a way or in a prominent position of your social media network (e.g. as profile photo, wallpaper, background) that may likely offer a public perception of your page having Red Cross or HKRC representation.
5.2Donot post private or confidential information related to HKRC, or identify beneficiaries, or infringe privacy of peers or colleagues. Use your best judgment and common sense to observe all common rules apply to work.
5.3If you talk about issues related to Red Cross, do not post/re-post or send/re-send any messages or information without taking reasonable steps to verify the correctness and the source.
5.4Do not say anything about Red Cross that you wouldn’t be comfortable seeing quoted on TV or newspaper. If in doubt, let it sit for a few hours or a day and think again whether this is what you really want to say.
5.5Do not let your online activities interfere, or cause you to neglect, your work or role in the HKRC.
6.Points to Note
6.1Protect your own privacy —use features in various social media settings that allow you some form of control over who can see your materials.
6.2HKRC reserves the right to request staff members, committee members, members and volunteers to rectify content related to Red Cross in their social media communications if deemed inappropriate.When such cases are identified, HKRC’s Corporate Communications Manager (CCM) will exercise impartial judgment regarding the content, and will refer to relevant Department Head or his/her delegate(s) for follow-up, if in need. The Secretary General, or his/her delegate(s), holds the final decision in this regard.
6.3Failure to comply with the advised action will subject to disciplinary actions as applicable.
6.4Delegatesinvolving in Red Cross projects overseas must also followthe social media requirements of IFRC, ICRC or related National Societies, whenever applicable.
[ For IFRC guidelines, can ask CCT* for copy, or access:- ]
6.5If you have queries or doubts related to your social media communications related to Red Cross, you can discuss with the Corporate Communications Team (CCT*)
6.6If you identify any misuse of the HKRC emblems, or misrepresentation of HKRC, or damage to HKRC reputation, in social media, pleaseinform either CCT* or the relevant staff member/head of the department you belong to.
1