Technology, social media and your organisation

The internet, and especially social media, are increasingly becoming vital communication and marketing tools for not-for-profit community organisations. They can be a great way for your organisation to promote its cause and services, and to communicate with your community cheaply and quickly.

However, there are risks to reputation and legal risks involved with social media use - especially because of the speed with which information travels on the internet, its global reach, and the lack of control that your organisation has once something goes online.

What is social media?

‘Social media' usually means a website, mobile application or technology that allows users to share and communicate information (‘content') online - either privately or publicly. Examples of social media include:

  • social networking sites (such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn)
  • blogs
  • information sources (such as wikis)
  • video-sharing sites (such as You Tube)
  • photo sharing sites (such as Flickr), and 
  • other sites with user generated content elements (such as news sites which invite customers to post reviews).

There are a range of legal issues your organisation should know about in using different types of social media.

Social Media – what are the legal issues?

PilchConnect has developed some fact sheets that address three particular areas of concern for community organisations regarding social media.

Social media can impact your organisation in many ways.  PilchConnect's fact sheet on Social Media the workplace (below) outlines some key issues for community organisations, and strategies for reducing risk.  This fact sheet includes information about:

  • social media and reputation
  • employee or volunteer use of personal social media
  • writing a social media policy
  • delegating authority for use of your organisation's own social media accounts, and
  • the impact social media can have on a safe workplace.

Does your organisation want to (or does it already) use Facebook? If so, read PilchConnect's information sheet on Facebook and legal issues for your community organisation (below). It covers:

  • things to think about when you sign up
  • copyright
  • privacy, and 
  • practical tips for using Facebook in a safe and legal way.

Does your organisation want (or already does) use Twitter? If so, read PilchConnect's information sheet on Twitter and legal issues for your community organisation (below). It covers:

  • twitter terms of use
  • rists of using twitter, and
  • practical tips for using Twitter in a safe and legal way.

Note: These fact sheets assumes some knowledge of intellectual property laws (copyright, trademarks). If you would like to read more about these laws, we recommend reading PilchConnect's Guide on Intellectual Property for Community Organisations before reading these fact sheets.

Further information

Legislation

Other links

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Content last updated: 06/12/11