Social Media Policy

Background

The advent of Social Media allows students of Wesley College to disseminate information at levels of unrivalled scale and ease. Social Media can potentially greatly enrich the College experience, serving as a means of communication and promotion.

However, it is important that students of the College use Social Media in a responsible manner and in a way that does not threaten the wellbeing, reputation or privacy of individuals or the reputation of the College or The University of Sydney.

Policy Objectives

The objectives of this Policy are:

• to ensure that students use Social Media in a manner consistent with relevant laws, regulations, policies, values and ethos of the College;
• to foster Social Media as a medium which, if used appropriately, can be of great benefit to students of the College; and
• to prevent the publication and dissemination of material which may be damaging to an individual, the College, or The University of Sydney.

The following College Values in particular will guide the appropriate use of Social Media:

• We respect and support each other
• We act responsibly and ensure the safety of others
• We display respect to others
• We accept responsibility
• We strive to be the best we can

Definitions

Social Media is defined as any internet-based application which allows the creation and exchange of usergenerated content. Social Media includes, but is not restricted to; Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X (formerly twitter), YouTube, Flickr, blogs and personal web sites.

Content is defined as including, but not restricted to, photos, symbols, videos and text.

Principles

The following principles will apply:

1. All content published via Social Media should be assumed to be public and able to be permanently disseminated.
2. All content published by individuals or House Committee should be based on the exercise of good judgement and seek only to benefit the College and our community. In particular, students should not publish or endorse content that:
   1. is confidential to the College, unlawful, inaccurate or in breach of intellectual property;
   2. is derogatory, discriminatory, harassing or defamatory to any individual, the College, the University of Sydney, or to the public at large;
   3. Is lewd or indecent;
   4. is anything that the College or House Committee of the Students Club directs should not be published or
   5. otherwise may bring the College or The University of Sydney into disrepute.
3. If a student or staff member feels that there exists any content published via Social Media contrary to this Policy, the student or staff member should contact the submitter and request that the content be removed immediately. The submitter should comply with this request as soon as practicable, if not immediately.
4. Complaints regarding content contrary to the Policy may be made to the College or to the Students' Club House Committee. Complaints regarding content contrary to the Policy may be made to the College or to the Students' Club House Committee. Complaints made to the House Committee will be notified to the Master and will be investigated in a manner agreed between the Master and Senior Student.
5. The publishing of content contrary to this Policy, and/or failure to remove content contrary to this Policy, including where a request for removal has been made but not enacted, will be dealt with by the College in accordance with the Discipline Policy. In addition, the Students' Club may take disciplinary action under the Students' Club Constitution.

Policy Review

This Policy is to be reviewed annually by the Wesley College Council (next review end of 2024).

Document Information:
Last Updated: 2024
Next Review: End of 2024