Overview
SOCIAL MEDIA BENEFITS & RISKS
Social media is a powerful tool we use to post timely and relevant information to keep our audiences informed. It provides commanders with an effective tool to achieve their communication objectives and assists them with meeting the information needs of their audiences. It offers an opportunity to inform and engage with the public.
Social media is inherently risky. Commanders must understand that they are assuming some risks when posting online, which can result in communication errors, audience misinterpretation and other unintended consequences. With the right knowledge, tools and approach, you can minimize these risks while maintaining public communication with your audience.
This website will acquaint you with your role in Army social media and provide you with policies, guidance and recommendations on how you can become a more effective communicator and representative of the U.S. Army - creating an environment where trusted information is disseminated to the Army Family and the public.
PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA USE
- Personal accounts must be clearly identifiable as personal.
- Avoid use of DoD titles, insignia, uniforms or symbols in a way that could imply DoD sanction or endorsem*nt of the content.
- It is recommended that Soldiers include a non-endorsem*nt disclaimer when posting any content featuring official titles, insignia, uniforms, symbols or otherwise identifying themselves as service members.
- The following sample disclaimer can be used in the Soldier’s social media platform bio, or as the caption or first comment of each relevant social media post: The views and opinions presented herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or its Components. Appearance of, or reference to, any commercial products or services does not constitute DoD endorsem*nt of those products or services. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute DoD endorsem*nt of the linked websites, or the information, products or services therein.
- It's acceptable to forward, link and share official information on personal accounts if it is not done in a way that implies official DoD endorsem*nt.
Click the link below for more information about personal social media use
OFFICIAL SOCIAL MEDIA USE
- Any content posted to an official Army social media account is official communication, regardless of the format. All official accounts must follow federal records management requirements.
- Official and personal accounts must be distinctly separate. A personal account cannot be converted to an official account, and an official account cannot be converted to a personal account.
- Accounts must be registered. Learn more about registering official accounts.
- A “verified” personal account on a social media platform does not constitute an official DoD account.
Click the link below for more information about official social media use
Personal and official accounts must be distinctly separate. A personal account cannot be converted to an official account, and an official account cannot be converted to a personal account.
TRAINING
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS - MANDATORY
- OPSEC for EOP Operators (updated course coming soon)
- Operations Security Awareness for Military Members, DoD Employees, and Contractors (Previously known as OPSEC Level II)
- Social Networking and Your Online Identity
UNIT PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE (UPAR)
- UPAR Bridging Course
- Navigate to https://www.milsuite.mil/
- Log in with your CAC
- Paste or type “APAC - Army Public Affairs Center” into the search bar
- Click “APAC - Army Public Affairs Center” to navigate to the APAC MilSuite page
- Click the “UPAR Bridging Course” link listed under “HELPFUL CMF46 CONTENT” on the right side of the page
- Review the UPAR training materials (MFR, ALARACT and slides)
RECOMMENDED TRAINING
Official accounts must have OPSEC Level II qualified personnel within the release authority in order to release any information to the public. See additional manadtory and recommended training.
External Links Disclaimer: The appearance of hyperlinks to external sites does not constitute endorsem*nt by the Department of the Army of the linked website or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sites, the Department of the Army does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD website.
