Social Media Policy in Your Code of Conduct

Social Media Policy in Your Code of Conduct

Social media creates unique challenges for code of conduct enforcement. Community members interact across multiple platforms, and the line between personal and project-related speech is often blurry.

The Core Question

When does someone's social media behavior fall under your code of conduct?

Clearly in scope:

• Posts from official project accounts
• Comments in project-specific hashtags or channels
• Using project role/title to lend authority to personal opinions
• Direct harassment of community members on any platform

Clearly out of scope:

• Personal opinions on unrelated topics
• Private conversations not involving community members
• Content on platforms unrelated to the project

Gray areas (require judgment):

• Subtweeting about community members without naming them
• General negativity about the project's technology choices
• Political opinions that make some community members uncomfortable
• Sharing project internal discussions publicly

Recommended Policy Language

## Social Media and Online Conduct

This Code of Conduct applies to social media when:
- Using official project accounts or channels
- Speaking as a representative of the project
- Directly referencing or engaging with community members
  in a way that violates our standards
- Using project authority to intimidate or harass

This Code of Conduct does not apply to:
- Personal opinions on unrelated topics
- Private conversations not involving community members

Cross-Platform Enforcement

When violations happen on platforms you do not control:

1. Document — Screenshot and save the content
2. Assess — Determine if it falls within CoC scope
3. Communicate — Contact the person through project channels
4. Enforce — Apply the same tiers as in-community violations
5. Note limitations — You cannot moderate external platforms

Practical Guidelines

• Do address harassment that targets community members, regardless of platform
• Do enforce when project authority is used to intimidate
• Do not police personal opinions on unrelated matters
• Do not surveil community members' social media activity
• Do provide guidance on representing the project professionally