Township of Raritan Social Media Policy and Procedures ________________________________________________________________________ 1 Municipal Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822-1799 P: (908) 806-6100

Date Adopted: April 1, 2025

Purpose

This Social Media Policy (“Policy”) sets forth guidelines for the establishment and use of social media networking platforms by the Township of Raritan ("Township"), its officials, officers, employees, agents, designees, representatives and/or volunteers as a means of disseminating Township-related information to its residents, employees and visitors. The Township has a vested interest and expectancy in deciding what is published on behalf of the Township on its own social media account(s).

The purpose of this Policy is to establish enforceable guidelines for the use of social media by Township officials, officers, employees, agents, designees, representatives and/or volunteers on Township social media platforms or when engaged in Township business (even if on private social media accounts). Guidelines are necessary to assure that communications made on behalf of the Township are properly authorized and in correct form; that communications to the Township are properly received and responded to; that posts to the Township’s social media accounts that can be viewed by the public are appropriate and pertinent; that all communications to the municipality is related to the posted municipal information; and, that the sender is explicitly informed that a message received by means of social media is not a substitute for reporting procedures.

For purposes of this Policy, the term “social media” is defined as a communication site or application where content is created by individuals using publishing technologies through and on the Internet. Examples of social media include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, among others. The term “comment” is defined as feedback expressing an opinion or reaction to a published work. Examples of comments include but are not restricted to information, rebuttals, shorthands, articles, graphics and pictures.

Objective

The objective of this Policy is for the Township and its departments to increase and facilitate communication between the Township and its residents, taxpayers and the general public. In addition, the intent is for interested parties with a registered account on any social media platform to may redistribute, also known as a “share,” Township information, enhance the public’s trust with its local municipality, establish a consistent brand image of the Township as a central focus for active community awareness, and present the Township in traditional news media to other communities. Users are encouraged to submit comments, questions and concerns, but is of note that Township social media platforms may serve as moderated online discussions and not public forums. Feedback may also be submitted to other communication mediums created by the Township, including but can extend past, the Township website, GovSites, My Raritan Township –  a GOGov Application, and the Public Education and Government Access Channels.

Scope/Applicability

This Policy shall apply to all Township agencies and departments, along with all affiliated government or non-government agency and/or official and/or board, commission, or committee permitted by the Township to post on the Township social media account(s).

General Policy

1. The Township of Raritan social media platforms must clearly state that they are maintained by the Township and that they adhere to guidelines set forth in this Policy. All official social media accounts and Township presence is considered an extension of its networks.
2. Wherever possible, the Township social media platforms shall link back to the official Township website for forms, documents, online services and other information necessary to conduct business with the Township.
3. The Township’s social media account(s) are monitored inside normal business hours only and will not respond to any comment received after hours.
4. The Township’s social media platforms cannot be used for making any official communications to the Township of Raritan, such as reporting a crime or misconduct, reporting dangerous conditions, or requesting an inspection. Prominent notice of this paragraph shall be displayed on every Township social media page, along with the appropriate contact information for submitting official communications.
5. The Township Administrator and/or designee shall monitor the Township’s social media account(s) to ensure adherence to this Policy and to the interests and goals of the Township of Raritan.
6. The Township has the exclusive right to restrict and remove any content that is deemed in violation of this Policy, social media site’s Terms of Service or any applicable law. See section below entitled “Prohibited Content.” Any content removed based on these guidelines will be retained by the Township Administrator and/or designee, including the time, date and identity of the poster, when available. Upon removal of the suspected prohibited content, an e-mail will be sent to the Township Administrator for notification.
7. The Township website, https://www.raritantwpnj.gov/, shall remain the Township’s primary and main internet presence. Whenever possible, links to more information should direct users back to the official website underlined in this paragraph for more information, forms, documents or online services necessary to conduct business with the Township.
8. The Township’s social media account(s) and this Policy are subject to all applicable Federal and New Jersey State laws and regulations, as well as applicable record retention requirements. This includes, though not exhaustive to, adherence to established laws and policies regarding copyright, record retention, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 5 U.S.C. § 552 et seq., the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., First Amendment privacy laws, Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 to -21, otherwise known as the “Sunshine Law” and information security policies established by the Township of Raritan, its administrators, departments and governing body.
9. Employees and volunteers representing the Township's government, via its social media site(s), must conduct themselves as a representative of the Township; must identify themselves by name, and when relevant, by role in the Township’s municipal government, and in accordance with all its policies.
10. This Policy governs all social media use by or on behalf of the Township and/or its departments, boards, commissions, committees, agencies, etc. Only the content approved by the Township Administrator or designee(s) for public release is allowed to be posted on the Township’s social media accounts.
11. Local non-profit organizations may have their local events showcased on the Township’s website, public access channel or social media platforms by obtaining prior approval from the Township Administrator or their designee.  It is solely at their discretion whether an event should be allowed to be placed on the Township’s website, public access channel or social media platforms.
12. Upon request and at the sole discretion of the Township Administrator or their designee(s), the Township may create a Facebook event for sponsored or co-sponsored events.  Co-sponsored events are defined as events hosted by third-party organizations which take place at a municipal facility (i.e. parks, recreation centers, schools, etc.).  For community events that are neither sponsored nor co-sponsored by the Township of Raritan, flyers may be posted on the website and social media accounts, but events on social media will not be created.
13. This Policy may be revised at any time with the approval of the Township Committee.
14. All Township policies are applicable to interactions on social media platforms when acting in an official capacity and representing the municipality.
15. The Township reserves the right to disable its social media accounts either temporarily or permanently at any time.

Comment Policy

1. As a public agency, the Township must abide by certain standards to serve all its constituents in a civil and unbiased manner.
2. The intent for the Township’s use of social media is to disseminate information from the Township of Raritan to its citizens, residents, employees and visitors.
3. A comment posted by a member of the public on any Township social media site is the opinion of the commentator or poster only. Publication of a comment does not imply an endorsement of, or agreement by, the Township nor do such comments reflect the opinions and/or policies of the Township.
4. Any attempt to compromise or gain unauthorized access to any of the Township’s internet and/or social media account(s) will be immediately reported to law enforcement and the responsible party(ies) involved will be denied access immediately.
5. The Township reserves the right to deny access to any and/or all its social media pages for any individual, group or entity who violates this Policy at any time and without any prior notice.
6. The Township’s social media page(s) are solely to distribute information and promote community awareness. The Township has the right to limit the number of comments on a particular post or outright disable the comment feature on its social media pages.
7. Social media users who publish a comment on a Township post are advised that they consent and acknowledge this Policy, are subject to criminal prosecution if found to be in violation of any applicable law, and their comment(s) may be reviewed by the Township Administrator and/or designee(s) at any time without notification. In addition, the following applies:
   1. All comments posted to any of the Township’s Facebook social media page is bound by any applicable terms and conditions of Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, located at http://www.facebook.com/terms.php; and the Township reserves the right to report any violation of these Rights and Responsibilities to the appropriate agency with the intent of having the agency take the appropriate and reasonable responsible action. All Township policies are applicable to interactions on its social media pages when acting in an official capacity and representing the Township.
   2. When the Township registers for an account on other social media platforms (i.e. Instagram, YouTube, Twitter/X), comments posted on these or any specific platforms are subject to its applicable terms and conditions, respectively.
8. Township municipal employees authorized access by the Township Administrator on any of the Township’s social media accounts are allowed to comment to users only if the inquiry relates to receiving additional guidance on Township information, resources or functions.
   1. The Township Administrator and/or designee(s) have the sole discretion to allow, limit, or prohibit Township municipal employees commenting on any of the Township’s social media sites and posts.
9. Any Township employee, Township elected official, vendor performing work or providing services to the Township, and volunteer who publish prohibited content (see section below entitled “Prohibited Content”) will be subject to having their privileges and access to the Township’s social media account(s) revoked without any prior notice, along with other applicable consequences.

Prohibited Content

Comments containing any of the following inappropriate forms of content shall not be permitted on any of the Township’s social media sites and are subject to removal and/or restriction by the Township Administrator and/or designee(s):

1. Profane, obscene, violent, or pornographic content and/or language, and sexually suggestive and/or explicit content links to such materials. Any image or link containing minors or suspected minors in any questionable circumstances will be reported to law enforcement.
2. Content that promotes, fosters or bolsters discrimination because of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, or national origin, marital status, status regarding public assistance, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation;
3. Libel/Defamatory attacks;
4. Threats to any person or organization;
5. Solicitation of commerce, including among others, advertising of any business or product for sale;
6. Conduct in violation of any Federal, State or local law;
7. Encouragement of any illegal or possible illegal activity (i.e. Content that incites violence and/or could lead to violence);
8. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or protected systems;
9. Content that violates a legal ownership interest, such as a copyright, of any party the Township does not permit or allow copyright infringing activities and/or infringement of intellectual property rights on its website or social media pages and will remove all content and submissions if properly notified that such content and/or submission infringes on another’s intellectual property rights;
10. Private contact information such as names, addresses and phone numbers no matter how easily obtained elsewhere, along with personal information of a person;
11. Spam or repetitive material;
12. Comments from children under the age of thirteen (13) cannot be posted, in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) 15 U.S.C. 6501 et seq. By posting on a Township media site, users acknowledge that they are at least thirteen (13) years old. Parents shall be responsible for any minor child’s posting or comments;
13. Photographs and/or videos;
14. Unrelated comments to the publication being commented upon;
15. Comments with vulgar, offensive, threatening, or harassing language, personal attacks, or unsupported accusations.

Users posting prohibited content are subject to being permanently barred, known as “blocked” from posting comments and following the Township’s social media page where the content originated from.

Policy Breach and Violations

1. The Township Administrator and/or designee(s) may be required to remove published content on Township social media accounts which are deemed to constitute a breach of this Policy, as determined by the Township Administrator, subject to applicable archiving and retention requirements.
2. A “designee” or a person appointed by the Township Administrator is never allowed to transfer their social media account information to anyone and/or allow anyone access to the Township’s accounts on their behalf without prior written authorization from the Township Committee or Township Administrator.
3. Any social media account created by the Township remains the sole property of the Township of Raritan, including all followers and friends generated by the page(s). Any employee, official, officer, agent, designee, representative, volunteer, or vendor with access to the Township’s social media account(s) who are no longer employed with the Township must relinquish anything and everything related to the pages including, but not limited to, usernames, passwords and/or access codes or information.

Terms of Disclosure (to be posted or hyperlinked on all Township Social Media Sites)

1. Information Disclaimer and Indemnification

   1. By visiting this site, you understand and agree that this Township of Raritan local government site is provided "AS IS". The Township makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information on this website. The information contained herein is not final nor in any way shall it be deemed to constitute legal notice where such legal notice is required by law. The information contained in this site is provided as a service and convenience to people requiring information about the Township of Raritan and its operations. Portions of the information on this site may be incorrect or not current and is subject to regular revisions without notice. Township of Raritan officials, officers, employees, agents, designees, representatives and/or volunteers are not liable for damages or losses of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of information, including but not confined to, damages or losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy or timeliness of any such information, or damages incurred from the viewing, distributing, or copying of those materials.
      
      

2. External Links

   1. The Township of Raritan website may contain links to outside websites. These websites are not owned, operated, controlled and/or reviewed by the Township. These links are provided solely as a courtesy and convenience. The Township and its officers or employees, exercise no control over the organizations, views, accuracy, copyright and/or trademark, compliance and/or the legality of the material contained in these outside websites. The Township and its officials, officers, employees, agents, designees, representatives and/or volunteers do not sponsor, endorse and/or approve the information, content, proceeds, materials, opinions and/or services contained on such outside websites. Any visitor proceeds to these outside websites at his/her own risk. The Township specifically disclaims all liability from damages, which may result from the accessing of a third-party site, which is linked to the Township website or from reliance upon only such information.
      
      

3. Endorsements

   1. Any references contained in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade firm or corporation name and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Township of Raritan or its officials, officers, employees, agents, designees, representatives and/or volunteers. Such information is provided to the public as a convenience.
      
      

4. Copyright and Trademark Limitations

   1. The Township of Raritan makes no warranty that materials contained herein are free of copyright or trademark claims or other restrictions or limitations on free use or display. Making a copy of such material shall be subject to copyright and/or trademark laws.
      
      

5. Publication of Material from Township Sites
   

   1. The Township of Raritan has made the content of these pages available to the public and anyone may view, copy and/or distribute Township information found here without obligation to the Township for non-commercial, personal use only, unless otherwise stated on any material or information to which a restriction on free use may apply.
   2. The design of this site, original graphics, and original content are all copyrighted by the Township of Raritan and may not be re-engineered, distributed, modified, transmitted, re-used, reposted, or duplicated without the express written permission of the Township in each instance. All requests to use any part of the original design, code, graphics or content of this site should be made via e-mail to the Township Administrator.
      
      

6. Unauthorized Use of Township Seal and Images

   1. Unauthorized attempts to modify or otherwise alter any information or imagery stored on any Township of Raritan website/social media platform page(s) may be subject to criminal prosecution.