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USGS Guidelines for Employee Use of Social Media

For all uses of social media and online interaction, employees should use these resources. 

Get Connected

For all uses of social media and online interaction, you should always consult and understand the following:

Personal Use Disclaimer: If you're using social media (e.g., X, YouTube, Facebook, etc.) for personal reasons you may want to add a phrase that clarifies that you are posting your own opinions. Even though you're acting in your personal capacity, you're still an employee of the Federal Government.

Some examples are "Posts are my own", "Posts are my own opinions", and "What I share is my own opinion and not endorsed by any organization." We understand that it's not possible to add a phrase like this in every single post. However, all social media services do provide profile options where you can add such language. While this is not legally required, it is a good practice and something that can help sharpen the lines between your role as a public servant and your rights as a private citizen.

When you're on duty, you can use social media for personal reasons during approved "personal use" time — you must remain aware of how your use reflects upon you and the USGS.

When you’re on duty, you may use social media to write guest posts or one­off blog posts when talking about your area of expertise. However, if the guest post or one­off blog post is an information product, as defined in SM Chapter 205.18, Fundamental Science Practices — Authority to  Approve  Information Products (12/13/11), it must receive appropriate review and approval in accordance with SM Chapter 502.4, Fundamental Science Practices — Review, Approval, and Release of Information Products (12/16/11).

When you're on duty, you can use social media to regularly talk about your area of expertise, if approved by the Office of Communications and Publishing and your supervisor — you must remain aware of how your use reflects upon you and the USGS.

When you’re on duty, you can use social media to respond to a comment, post, bulletin board, discussion forum, correct a scientific inaccuracy, etc. as it is related to your area of expertise — you must remain aware of how your use reflects upon you and the USGS.

When you're off duty, you can use social media for personal reasons — you must remain aware of how your use reflects upon you and the USGS.

When you're off duty, you can use social media to talk about your area of expertise. If…

  • you’re asked/approached by a non­Federal organization to regularly contribute to one of their organization’s official websites or social media — you must remain aware of how your use reflects upon you and the USGS.
  • on your own initiative/decision, you are responding to a comment, post, bulletin board, discussion forum, correcting a scientific inaccuracy, etc. as it is related to your area of expertise

– you must remain aware of how your use reflects upon you and the USGS.

If you will be receiving compensation for contributing to a non­Federal organization’s websites or social media presences on matters related to your USGS job or the USGS mission, you must receive prior Ethics Office approval via Form 9­1510 (Ethics Approval for Outside Work or Activities).

Errors in Official Posts: In the event there is an error or inaccuracy in an official USGS post, employees should contact the USGS account through that account service directly, or contact the USGS Social Media Team, to provide the corrected information. All suggestions will be confirmed and, if an error was made, a correction will be made through that service.

Training: The USGS encourages the strategic use of social media for the organization. We provide our employees with internal resources to stay informed about social media at the USGS and offer training sessions for employees and programs when requested on the use of social media at the USGS, expectations of that use, and tools and resources to get started. At all times, employees are encouraged to contact the USGS Social Media Team if they have any questions related to social media use at the USGS.

Comments: You must always remain aware of how your use of social media reflects upon you and the USGS. Keep in mind that any use of social media (on duty or off duty) may generate conversations through comments and sharing which can quickly transition to unintended areas.

 

Political Activity

As an election season starts to wind up, people will naturally want to share, post, and comment on politically related content, campaigns, etc. As a federal employee, you have a responsibility to know how you can, or can’t, interact with politically-­related posts on social media sites using personal or official accounts.

Depending on the type of employee you are, you will have different restrictions.

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) Is the independent Federal agency with the responsibility for enforcing the Hatch Act. Consult the FAQs on the OSC website for information regarding social media use, the Hatch Act, and political activity. Alternatively, you may contact the Department of the Interior Hatch Act Compliance Team at with specific questions.

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