Tips and best practices for UC ANR employees and volunteers who reference UC ANR on their personal social media accounts. For guidance on managing branded UC ANR social media accounts, see Policies for Branded Accounts.
Introduction
Many UC ANR employees and volunteer participants maintain active personal social media accounts on which they often discuss their UC work and promote participation activities. UC ANR encourages community involvement in online communications and can benefit from the promotion of UC ANR on employee and participant accounts. However, social media audiences can become confused about whether UC ANR employees and volunteers are speaking for themselves or on behalf of UC ANR when they reference the University of California, UC ANR, or other UC programs such as 4-H or Master Gardener in their personal profiles and posts.
These guidelines are designed to help you engage in meaningful online conversation while ensuring that UC's institutional policies are not misrepresented and that statements about UC are clearly your own and not the University's.
Guidelines
Be authentic. Do not say anything that is dishonest, untrue, or misleading. If you have a vested interest in something you are discussing, point it out. If you make an error, correct it quickly and transparently. If someone accuses you of posting something improper, address it promptly.
Clarify context. Unless authorized by UC ANR Risk and Safety Services, do not speak on behalf of UC ANR on your personal accounts. Do not portray yourself as a spokesperson — official or unofficial — on issues relating to UC ANR or the University of California. You may identify yourself as a UC ANR employee, but refrain from giving the impression that you are speaking for the organization.
Name your account appropriately. Personal social media accounts may not use UC ANR in the account name and may not use the UC ANR logo or branding. When engaging in personal social media activities, do not use your University title in any way that implies you are speaking for the University.
Use resources appropriately. You may exercise your right to engage in personal political activity, but no member of the UC ANR community may use University facilities or resources — including time on the job — for political purposes, except as specifically permitted by University regulations.
Avoid misperception. Take care to avoid creating any misperception of University endorsement of a particular political position. You are free in your private capacity to endorse any political candidate or ballot initiative, but avoid any inference of University endorsement.
Get consent. If you plan to post photos, videos, or other identifying information about participants or employees at UC ANR events or work locations, obtain appropriate authorization and consent forms from all such persons including clients, volunteers, employees, faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Never share identifying information about children — such as their names or school locations — on public pages without parental consent.
Support the UC ANR mission. We encourage you to use your personal social media accounts in ways that are supportive of UC ANR and its mission. Some ways to engage from your personal account include:
- Follow UC ANR on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube
- Like or comment on UC ANR posts
- Repost UC ANR content on X
- Subscribe to UC ANR blogs
- Rate and comment on UC ANR videos on YouTube
- Visit the ANR Platforms page to find and follow other UC ANR accounts
Definitions
Branded accounts: Social media accounts operated by UC ANR personnel or volunteers that are branded with the name of the division or its programs such as 4-H or UC Master Gardener.
Personal accounts: Social media accounts set up and managed by individual users that are not officially associated with the University of California name, programs, or resources.
Social media: Websites and applications designed to allow people to share content quickly and in real-time, facilitating the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through virtual networks and communities. Examples include Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Reddit, and blogs.