DOD issues first-ever social media policy

Ryan Callahan — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:38:20 -0400

Even though the advent of social media dates back to at least 1997, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) never had an agency-wide policy governing its use by military and civilian personnel. That is, until now.

In “Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes” (DOD Instruction 5400.17), the Pentagon on Aug. 12 published formal policies and procedures on how best to use social media properties such as Facebook (established in 2004), Twitter (2006), Instagram (2010) and other “official” accounts on social media platforms. An aim of the 27-page policy is to maintain high ethical and professional standards in DOD’s communications with the public.

“It’s long overdue,” conceded Andy Oare, director of digital media for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), in a DOD News blog post published Aug. 15. “There have been efforts in the past to do this, but in an organization of this size and magnitude, you need to fully coordinate and ensure all viewpoints are heard and represented. We wanted to make sure the services were collaborators from the very beginning.”

Previous DOD social media policies had more narrowly addressed how DOD personnel could safely use social media. And some service branches and DOD components maintained separate social media guidance.

But DOD’s Oare said this is the first policy to cover how — and how not — to use such channels in public affairs.

“Social media has an effect on every one of our service members, civilians, contractors and their families — whether they run an official account or have never heard of Twitter,” Oare told DOD News. “We owe it to all of them to have one central policy that provides a clearly articulated standard of operation and accountability.” 

Although the new policy could take precedence over established social media policies, Oare said DOD commands and components aren’t prohibited from producing additional, specific guidance on social media usage.

“We deliberately wrote it in a collaborative manner, and it encourages component heads to continue establishing component-specific social media regulations,” Oare said. “Our aim is not to be prescriptive or restrictive, but rather to lay out some commonsense rules that simply have not been formally articulated at this level.” 

Recruitment marketing via social media not covered

An exception is made for social media channels used for marketing purposes — these types of accounts remain governed by a separate policy: DOD Instruction 1304.35, titled “Military Marketing.” This no doubt was a relief to military recruiters relying on social media amid “the most challenging recruiting environment since the All-Volunteer Force was established in 1973,” as a recent Army memo put it. The military marketing instruction allows recruiters to engage in “an aggressive program of advertising and market research that targets prospective recruits and individuals influencing prospective recruits.”

The new DOD-wide instruction also allows public affairs’ social media accounts to amplify military recruitment posts.

Military and civilian personnel engaged in other DOD public affairs communications on social media must follow the new instruction. This includes members of OSD, military departments, offices of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, DOD Office of Inspector General, defense agencies, DOD field activities, and all other DOD organizations and entities. The instruction spells out who is responsible for enforcing the new rules.

Private use of social media among areas covered

The instruction covers the following three key areas:

Core principles of social media use within DOD. Among other guidance, this section states that DOD uses social media to be transparent with and disseminate information to the public, and that mishandling social media sites harms the government’s reputation and relationships, in the United States and abroad. The rules make clear that DOD personnel can have personal, nonofficial accounts but can’t use them to imply that private content is DOD-sanctioned or endorsed. Disclaimers should be used to reduce confusion or doubt, the instruction says.

Procedures on managing social media account records. This area spells out how to retain, dispose of, manage, and transition social media content and/or accounts; how to handle features such as direct messaging; and how to deal with cyber vandalism and imposter accounts.

Guidance on DOD personnel’s use of personal social media accounts. Among other areas, this section covers rules against distributing nonpublic information through personal accounts; how to make sure personal accounts are clearly marked (a sample disclaimer is provided); and when it’s OK to forward, like, and link to official DOD information from personal accounts.

The instruction adds: “A personal social media account must not be an avenue for friends, followers, or private contacts to gain access to DOD programs or seek action from DOD officials in a manner not available to the general public.” The rules also prohibit DOD personnel from using their official position for private financial gain or commercial endorsements.

DOD plans to review and update the guidance to make sure it’s current and relevant, the DOD News post said.

Learn more

• Read the full DOD Instruction 5400.17: https://rly.pt/3Rjf1uS

• Read “DOD Releases First Departmentwide Social Media Policy,” DOD News, Aug. 15, 2022: https://rly.pt/3TwGTOe

3Rjf1uS

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Aug 30 at 2022 1:44 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:44:26 -0400

Ryan Callahan Thanks for the information and share.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2022 1:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:49:25 -0400

Interesting article, thank you. It's truly amazing DOD had no comprehensive policy on social media before now. That they didn't indicates to me they liked how social media was going.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 30 at 2022 2:03 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:03:51 -0400

It's about time, they must have had some issues regarding compliance.

Response by COL Randall C. made Aug 30 at 2022 3:00 PM

COL Randall C. — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:00:35 -0400

*chuckle*

a. Maintain a Clear Distinction Between Personal and Official Accounts.
(1) DoD personnel must ensure that all personal social media accounts are clearly identifiable as personal accounts. DoD personnel must ensure that their personal social media accounts avoid use of DoD titles, insignia, uniforms, or symbols in a way that could imply DoD sanction or endorsement of the content. DoD personnel should use personal, non-official contact information, such as personal telephone numbers or postal and e-mail addresses, to establish personal, nonofficial accounts.

Umm ... yeah. I think that's going to be a big problem on this site unless there are big changes (... avoid use of DoD titles, insignia, uniforms ...). Not so much for the Vets, but the active duty accounts would need to change in order to comply with the new policy.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2022 11:22 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 23:22:35 -0400

I am very surprised that the DOD is not specifically saying not to have the Chinese TikTok on any of your personal smartphones.

This article is from the Canadian BroadcastingCorp.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tiktok-fcc-1.6505269
The Canadian government is also against Chinese wawei systems.

U.S. communications regulator wants TikTok removed from app stores over spying concerns | CBC...

A commissioner with theU.S. communications regulator is asking Apple and Google to consider banning TikTok from their app stores over data security concerns related to the Chinese-owned company.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 31 at 2022 11:28 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 23:28:04 -0400

This issue is a new frontier both in the public and private sector. Additionally some copanies have not properly developed.

Response by A1C Isa Kocher made Sep 1 at 2022 12:51 AM

A1C Isa Kocher — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 00:51:27 -0400

it's 5400.17

not 2400

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3121412/dod-releases-first-departmentwide-social-media-policy/

DOD Releases First Departmentwide Social Media Policy

The Defense Department released a policy that spells out how DOD military and civilian personnel should use official social media accounts to best advance the mission of the U.S. military and further

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2022 9:22 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 21:22:28 -0400

Social media policies were up until now at the Command level. This is good to see.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2022 8:37 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 20:37:55 -0400

Hard to take anything seriously from this administration when we have such asymmetric use of the DOJ. And with that I’ll delete my only account on social media. This one.

Response by James Miller made Sep 15 at 2022 10:00 AM

James Miller — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:00:43 -0400

DoD should ban the use of Facebook until the platform stops censoring Conservatives.

Response by Sgt Douglas Berger made Sep 16 at 2022 10:40 AM

Sgt Douglas Berger — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:40:28 -0400

A word about social media from someone (me) who has been involved with the Internet and its' evolution. The Internet was, at one time, the last frontier. Now it has evolved into a controlled media.

On the most part I have moved away from social networks. Not because someone makes a comment who I do not agree, but by expressing my opinion a well meant comment can be interrupted as misinformation or an attempt to advance a position that is considered unacceptable (political).

I am not making a comment to persuade others to avoid social networking, but raise awareness to be careful of how you express your opinion. Life is to short to add stress of investigation because of your opinion.

Make your own decision and proceed with caution.

Semper Fi
'

Response by PO2 Larry Higgins made Nov 14 at 2022 4:04 AM

PO2 Larry Higgins — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 04:04:08 -0500

Funny, I myself abhor social media and the "Hey, look at me lifestyle." that is projected.
I sadly admit to being on a few boards, but as many other veterans I know that are have changed our names to protect ourselves. The only reason I am there at all is it seems even the VA has somehow decide these sites have value to their end.
In my opinion they should be abolished to prevent stable minds from warped from the likes of that twit-idiot and the former commander-n-chief that knows no bounds and found he needed to create his own platform to keep spewing his rhetoric many of us don't want to listen too.