NJLM's Social Media Policy

New Jersey State League of Municipalities Social Media Terms of Use and Comment Policy

The following policy shall be prominently posted on all League social media sites or made available through a prominently displayed hyperlink.

Definitions

  1. “Social media” is a variety of online sources that allow people to communicate, share information, share photos, share videos, share audio, and exchange text and other multimedia files with others via some form of online or cellular network platform.
  2. “League social media” means pages, services or feeds established and maintained by the League on behalf of the League, through which content of community interest is provided to the general public. League social media sites shall supplement, not replace, the League’s required notices and traditional methods of communication.

Terms of Use of League Social Media

  1. The purpose of League social media is to communicate information of interest to League members and the public. The goal of posting is to provide information of interest to League members and the public concerning the functions, activities, programs and goals of the League, as well as sharing news items of interest to local officials and professionals, when these items pertain specifically to local government governing. The League welcomes responses by our members and the public via appropriate comment, email, letter, or telephone call.
  2. This is an official social media site of the League. This site is intended to serve as a mechanism for communication of information about the League, by the League, to the public.
  3. By permitting use of the public comment feature, the League does not intend to create a general public forum, and all comments and posts must comply with this policy. The League reserves the right to determine whether comments will be allowed for a post.
  4. “Posts” or postings” mean information, articles, pictures, videos and any other form of communication placed on a League social media site on behalf of the League.
  5. The League may respond to select comments posted on this site in a limited manner. Should you require more information or wish to discuss a topic with a League representative, please contact the League’s office directly. The League office can be reached by phone at 609-695-3481.
  6. Postings made by the public will be monitored. The League reserves the right to reject any post it deems to be objectionable. Following are examples of materials that are prohibited and that will be removed from the League’s Social Media:
    1. Comments not topically related;
    2. Profane language or content;
    3. Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religious creed, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, age, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other basis protected by applicable state or federal law;
    4. Threats to any person or organization or encouragement of illegal activity;
    5. Content containing personal information, such as home addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth or driver’s license numbers;
    6. Sexual content or links to sexual content;
    7. Solicitations of commerce, including any advertising or business services or products for sale;
    8. Conduct of encouragement of illegal activity;
    9. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems;
    10. Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other party;
    11. Content that violates any federal, state or local laws;
    12. Comments that violate the legal ownership interest of another party (copyright or trademark violations);
    13. Content that contains confidential or proprietary information about the League, its employees or vendors;
    14. Comments in support of or opposition to any political campaigns or ballot measures
    15. Information that promotes a specific religion or religious belief;
    16. Comments containing suspected malware and/or viruses.
  7. The League disclaims any and all responsibility and liability for any materials that the League deems inappropriate for posting, which cannot be removed in an expeditious and otherwise timely manner. The League reserves the right to remove any fans, followers, or subscribers that continuously violate this policy.
  8. When you post to a League social media site, you are subject to the policies, rules and regulations (i.e. terms of use) of the host site as well as the League. Information you share with or post to this site may be used by the owners of the host site for their own purposes. For more information, consult the host website’s terms of use. Content appearing on this site may be subject to public records laws and subject to disclosure by the League if requested. Every comment or posting made to this site is a public record, and may be disseminated, reproduced, or copied by the League or any other person without any further action by the poster or without notice by the League of such. You agree by posting to this site that you have no reasonable expectation of privacy as to such posts or comments.
  9. Pursuant to the requirements of the service provider, this website may contain content, including, but not limited to, advertisements and hyperlinks over which the League has no control. The League does not endorse any hyperlink or advertisement or content therein placed on this League social media site by the site’s owners, vendors, or partners. 
  10. Social media postings are made in real time and may inadvertently contain errors or omissions. The League is not responsible for any delays, errors, or omissions arising out of your use of the site or with respect to the material contained on the site, including, without limitation, any material posted on the site.
  11. The League is neither responsible nor liable for any viruses or other contamination of your computer system. 
  12. The League’s social media is offered and available to users who are 13 years of age or older and residents of the United State of America.
  13. The League’s social media sites are not to be used for making any official communications with the League. 
  14. By proceeding to use the League’s social media site, you hereby agree to these Terms of Use.

Comment Policy

  1. Comments, articles, topics and submittals containing the following forms of content are not allowed on League social media platforms:
    1. Personal attacks of any kind;
    2. Content that bullies, intimidates, or harasses any user;
    3. Comments not topically related;
    4. Profane language or content; 
    5. Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religious creed, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, age, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other basis protected by applicable state or federal law; 
    6. Threats to any person or organization or encouragement of illegal activity; 
    7. Content containing personal information, such as home addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth or driver’s license numbers;
    8. Sexual content or links to sexual content;
    9. Solicitations of commerce, including any advertising or business services or products for sale;
    10. Conduct of encouragement of illegal activity;
    11. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems;
    12. Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other party;
    13. Content that contains confidential or proprietary information about the League, its employees or vendors;
    14. Content that violates any federal, state or local laws;
    15. Comments that violate the legal ownership interest of another party (copyright or trademark violations);
    16. Comments in support of or opposition to any political campaigns or ballot measures;
    17. Information that promotes a specific religion or religious belief;
    18. Duplicate, repetitive, or spam content.
  2. The League reserves the right to remove any fans, followers, or subscribers that continuously violate this policy.
  3. Comments must be related to the posted topic. This site is not meant for comments that do not directly related to the purpose or topic of the site or for service complaints. For general comments, or communication, please contact the League by phone or email.
  4. Statements or posts that constitute libel, slander and or defamation are prohibited; however, the League is not responsible for determining the truth or veracity of any statement made or comment posted by users of a League site or page.
  5. Comments submitted to this site are monitored. The League reserves the right to remove or restrict any content that is deemed in violation of this Social Media Policy or any applicable law.
  6. The League disclaims any and all responsibility and liability for any materials posted or submitted by users of the League’s social media sites.
  7. The League reserves the right to implement or remove any functionality of its social media sites, when deemed appropriate by the Content Managers. Content Manager refers to any person who establishes, creates and/or posts content on behalf of the League on a League social media site. This includes, but is not limited to, blocking specific persons from submitting comments, tweets, or replies; removing comments; turning off comments; removing information, articles, pictures, videos, or any other form of communication that is posted on a League social media site when it does not conform to the site’s guidelines and/or terms of use, or the League’s Social Media Policy.
  8. A comment posted by a member of the public on any League social media site is the opinion of the commenter only. Publication of a comment does not imply endorsement of or agreement by the League, nor do such comments necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the League.
  9. The League reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of this policy or any applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the League is not obligated to take such actions, and disclaims any and all responsibility and liability for any materials posted by a member of the public.
  10. By posting a comment, you agree to indemnify the League, its officers and employees from and against all liabilities, judgments, damages, and costs (including attorney’s fees) incurred by any of them which arise out of or are related to content posted by users.
  11. The League may revise and update these Terms of use and Policy from time to time at our sole discretion.
  12. By proceeding to use the League’s social media site, you hereby agree to this Comment Policy.

If you do not agree to these terms, you should not use the League’s social media sites as a violation of these terms may lead to legal liability.