ADRIAN — Lenawee County is moving forward with a new social media policy that applies specifically to county employees when posting on behalf of the county.
The Policy and Procedures Committee approved and recommended the standalone Social Media Policy to the full Board of Commissioners during its July 7 meeting. The policy outlines clear expectations for county employees using social media for official county business.
Employees must first obtain approval from their department head before posting on any county-managed social media account. All accounts must also be coordinated through the county’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator and managed using the county’s designated social media management software.
The policy does not apply to the general public or employees’ personal social media accounts as long as those accounts do not claim to speak on behalf of the county. Employees are allowed to list their county position on personal profiles, but they may not make official comments or represent the county in any way through individual social media use.
The policy emphasizes strict compliance with county branding standards, factual accuracy, and appropriate use of county resources. It also outlines prohibited content, including discriminatory, political, or illegal posts. It specifies that all social media activity conducted on behalf of the county is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and Michigan’s public record retention laws.
The county uses archival software to retain posts, comments, and messages for compliance purposes. The county’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator only permits comment removal from official accounts to ensure proper documentation is maintained.
Additionally, the policy requires that all employees use the correct county logos and follow federal copyright laws when sharing third-party content.
Violations of the social media policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination and potential legal consequences.
The policy is part of the county’s broader effort to modernize communication practices while maintaining accountability and professionalism across all public platforms.
The Board of Commissioners will consider final policy approval at an upcoming meeting.