Official social media pages for the City of Whitewater will accept user comments. If the comments are deemed inappropriate by policy, then the staff maintaining that social media site will back-up the social media site or comment and remove that comment(s). Public users visiting official social media sites may also be directed to appropriate pages of the City’s website where comments will be allow
ed.
1. Social media sites and City blog pages may allow for the posting of citizen comments in response to City communications. Such comments will be accepted or rejected based on the following standard:
a. Citizen comments will be welcome on these sites. Citizens wishing to post a comment through City Blogs will need to register in a manner similar to the registration/verification process used by most news media sites. Registration will not require personal identification to ensure the anonymity of the user. Citizens wishing to post to social media sites will have their posts reviewed for appropriate content. If the post is in violation of Social Media Policy, then the content shall be backed up and deleted from the post. The City will not allow to be posted the following comments:
i. Posts may express a user’s opinion regarding a posted issue or a specific comment made about a posted issue, but posted comments cannot directly attack a specific person. Profanity or offensive comments regarding a person's race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, or religion. iii. Encouragement of illegal activity. iv. Specific support or opposition of an elected official(s). Users posting comments are welcome to support or oppose “The Council,” but not individuals or specific groups of individuals on the Council. v. Campaigning. No user posts will be allowed to directly urge a Yes or No vote on ballot initiatives or directly endorse or oppose a Councilmember or candidate. vi. Comments unrelated to the initial blog post. Posted comments must relate to the subject of the post. vii. Advertisements related to posts, unless approved by the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer and Public Information Officer. e. Response to posted comments, when relevant, will be posted within the normal hours of operation by the staff assigned to the administration of those Social Media sites. Response times to comments are encouraged to be within 24 hours of posting. f. The City will hold a standard practice of allowing comments on a particular subject to remain visible on the website for a minimum of seven (7) days. However, the City reserves the right to close any posting at any time.
