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Corporation for National and Community Service 

Policies and Procedures

Policy Number: 105 Effective Date: March 8, 2019

Subject: Social Media Policy

Purpose: This policy governs the official use of social media at the Corporation for 

National and Community Service (CNCS).

Scope and Applicability: This policy applies to all CNCS employees, contractors, interns, and 

volunteers. Some of the requirements apply specifically to agency users who engage in social media

on behalf of CNCS as part of their official duties, whether such use occurs on a CNCS website

(intranet or internet), mobile application, or a third-party website.

How will this policy be socialized? This policy will be distributed by email to all personnel and 

posted on SharePoint. Each CNCS program or office director is included on the clearance sheet for 

this policy, and is responsible for ensuring that all personnel understand and comply with this 

policy. External Affairs staff are available to brief others on this policy.

Policy Replaced: Previous versions

Originating Office: Office of External Affairs (OEA)

Approved By:

Desiree Tucker-Sorini

Chief of Staff
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Contents

1. PURPOSE.........................................................................................................................................3

2. SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY......................................................................................................3

3. VISION AND STRATEGY .............................................................................................................3

4. POLICY............................................................................................................................................3

a) CNCS Social Media Policy........................................................................................................3

b) Processto Establish a New Official CNCS Social Media Account ............................................4

5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................................5

a) The Office of External Affairs(OEA): ..........................................................................................5

b) Programs(AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorpsNCCC headquarters and campuses,

AmeriCorps VISTA, SeniorCorps): .................................................................................................5

c) AccountManager(andDesignated Alternate Account Manager):.................................................6

d) The Office of Field Liaison (OFL): ...............................................................................................6

e) The Office of General Counsel (OGC):.........................................................................................6

f) The Office ofInformation Technology (OIT): ...............................................................................6

6. OFFICIAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA .............................................................................................6

a) Contribution toCNCS Social Media Accounts..............................................................................8

b) PrivacyRequirements ...................................................................................................................8

c) Nonpublic Information..................................................................................................................8

d) Freedom of Information Act Requirements..................................................................................8

e) Section508(Accessibility)Compliance.........................................................................................8

f) Comment Policy and Moderation...................................................................................................8

g) InformationCollection and PaperworkReductionAct ................................................................10

h) Lobbying and Propaganda ..........................................................................................................10

i) Records Management..................................................................................................................10

j) Prohibitions on Engaging with CNCS Personal Social Media Accounts .....................................11

k) Copyright and Fair Use ...............................................................................................................11

l) Information Quality.....................................................................................................................11

m) Availability to PersonswithLimited English Proficiency ..........................................................12

n) SecurityRequirements andRiskManagement ............................................................................12

o) EmergencyUse ...........................................................................................................................13

7. PERSONAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ........................................................................................13

8. COMMUNICATIONS AND TRAINING.......................................................................................14

9. ADDITIONALINFORMATION....................................................................................................14

10. AUTHORITY ...............................................................................................................................15

11. RELATED DOCUMENTS ..........................................................................................................15

12. DEFINITIONS..............................................................................................................................16

Attachment: Personal Social Media Use FAQs..................................................................................17
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1. PURPOSE

CNCS is committed to expanding the conversation on national service and upholding the open 

government principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration. CNCS believes social media 

can be a significant tool in accomplishing its mission, engaging the public in discussion on issues 

about national service, and obtaining public input for agency operations.

For purposes of this policy, social media is a broad term for the wide spectrum of interactive and 

user-driven content technologies (e.g., social networks, blogs, wikis, social bookmarking, video 

sharing, etc.) that connect users and allow them to engage in dialogue, share information, collaborate, 

and interact.

The Office of External Affairs (OEA) leads CNCS’s social media efforts and works closely with 

the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and the Office of Information Technology (OIT).

The purpose of this document is to establish policy and procedures for how CNCS staff uses social 

media.

2. SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY

This policy applies to CNCS employees, contractors, interns, and volunteers (agency users). Specific 

policy requirements also apply to agency users who produce social media content or engage in social

media on behalf of CNCS as part of their official duties.

The Standards of Ethical Conduct (5 C.F.R. Part 2635) apply to an individual’s personal and 

official use of social media, and this policy does not modify those legal responsibilities. The Hatch 

Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7326) limits certain political activities of most executive branch employees, 

including certain activities on social media.

3. VISION AND STRATEGY

CNCS’s mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement 

through service and volunteering. OEA communicates this mission online to develop and foster 

relationships with the public, currently-serving national service participants, alumni, external 

stakeholders, and national service champions.

OEA mobilizes individuals, organizations, and communities through CNCS’s mission, programs, 

special events, and initiatives. Social media is integral to this effort because it provides a platform

for real-time conversation, collaboration, and idea sharing. CNCS uses social media to foster a 

more effective and transparent government and to engage the agency with the public and national

service community.

4. POLICY

a) CNCS Social Media Policy
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It is CNCS’s policy to use social media when:

 OEA has identified a need to engage with the public

 Procedures for establishing a CNCS social media presence have been followed

 The benefits of using the medium outweigh any costs or risks.

CNCS will only use social media sites that have been approved according to CNCS procedures 

(see 4(b) below) and only when use of the social media site has been approved by the Director of 

External Affairs. All use of social media must be in accordance with approved Terms of Service 

(ToS) agreements. OGC must review and approve ToS agreements. OEA will maintain all 

approved ToS agreements involving third-party websites.

Agency users who manage or use CNCS social media in their official capacity, and the agency’s 

use of social media as a whole, must follow all applicable laws, regulations, and policies 

regarding, but not limited to, managing personally identifiable information (PII) and CNCS

information. Each CNCS social media account requires an account point of contact and designated

alternate, who must be CNCS employees. These include, but are not limited to: records 

management, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act on access for persons with disabilities, privacy, 

ethics, copyright, and information security.

b) Processto Establish a New Official CNCS Social Media Account

OEA directs all social media activity for the agency. OEA will make final decisions about new 

accounts and will help as needed with implementation and compliance.

If you would like to initiate a new social media account for your program or office, send your 

request to socialmedia@cns.gov. Include a justification for the account, a point of contact and 

alternate, and a content strategy. The content strategy must include an outline of topics that will be 

amplified during the first 90 days. After the new account has been in use for 90 days, report

account analytics within 10 business days. OEA will give all account owners and alternates written 

guidance on posting content, moderating comments, and posting appropriate disclaimers.

Any accounts which are not approved in advance by OEA will be considered private and will be

removed from a CNCS website. Any activity that takes place on these accounts will not be 

considered official use and must therefore comply with the requirements that apply to private social

media accounts, which are summarized in Section 7 of this policy.

If you would like to use new social media software, services, access, or tools, also send your 

request to socialmedia@cns.gov for OEA review. If you are interested in a social media tool or 

application that is not part of CNCS’s portfolio, but is offered by digitalgov.gov, use the social media

request form to ask for a CNCS ToS agreement. Include a justification for use with the request. 

OGC, OEA, and OIT will review ToS agreements before OEA grants official use. The ToS process 

takes from four to six weeks to complete.

OEA will coordinate with OGC to review current social media accounts to ensure consistency of 
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messaging and compliance with laws, regulations, and this policy. CNCS may close down social 

media accounts that do not meet these requirements. In addition, the agency will deactivate 

accounts if the POC or alternate POC has not completed the required agency training conducted by

OEA twice a year. OEA will work with program and/or office supervisors to determine appropriate 

next steps to remedy non-compliance with policy, law, or regulation.

Any CNCS employee who has a highly visible, publicly-facing position at CNCS, such as a senior 

director, senior political appointee, or senior discretionary appointee, may only use CNCS official 

email or social media accounts to post or share national service news, initiatives, programs, and 

other related content, and to share or retweet official CNCS social media postings. Such employees

may not use CNCS official accounts for any personal use, such as sharing or retweeting personal

views or opinions.

For purposes of this policy, a CNCS senior director or senior political appointee is defined as a 

person who receives a salary within the NX-2 pay band and whose position description includes 

authorization to speak on behalf of the government, including engaging with public and the 

media.

5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Personnel in multiple offices and programs play a significant role in establishing and monitoring 

compliance with social media policy. Together they protect CNCS’s security and ensure the 

agency’s compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

a) The Office of External Affairs (OEA):

 Leads CNCS into new social media platforms and uses and drives innovation and

online communication via social media

 Manages CNCS’s online brand

 Monitors agency users’ compliance with this policy

 Oversees social media communications and content and interfaces with programs and 

state offices accordingly

 Approves all social media accounts

 Serves as the primary contact for any third-party social media companies and 

social media business

 Coordinates the implementation of ToS agreements with sites in consultation with OGC and 

OIT

 Develops and implements biannual social media awareness training for people 

covered by this policy, and provides ad-hoc training for new employees.

b) Programs(AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps NCCC

headquarters and campuses, AmeriCorps VISTA, Senior Corps):

 Provide assistance and resources in coordination with OEA

 Participate in weekly meetings to disseminate information and receive updates and 

training
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 Provide new account requests to OEA

 Collaborate with OEA through their account manager(s) and designated alternate 

account manager(s) to ensure compliance with this policy.

c) Account Manager (and Designated Alternate Account Manager):

 Oversees day-to-day management of the official CNCS social media platform(s) for 

which the account manager is responsible

 Generates and approves content for the social media platform(s), and moderates 

comments and activity on page(s) as necessary

 Manages records for their account

 Ensures all branding and style guide requirements are followed

 Participates in required OEA meetings for social media account managers.

d) The Office of Field Liaison (OFL):

 Provides assistance and resources to state offices in coordination with OEA

 Participates in meetings to disseminate information and receive updates and training

 Sends new state office account requests to OEA

 Collaborates with OEA through its account manager(s) and designated back-up 

manager(s) to ensure compliance with this policy.

e) The Office of General Counsel (OGC):

 Provides legal advice and guidance on social media platforms and the use of social media 

 Participates in trainings to inform new account managers and alternate account managers on 

PII, FOIA, and other issues that affect the use of social media

 Reviews and amends ToS agreements when appropriate

 Oversees ethics requirements for CNCS employees, including advising on proper use of social

media in a CNCS employee’s personal capacity.

f) The Office ofInformation Technology (OIT):

 Reviews all new social media technologies, applications, or services submitted by OEA to

ensure compliance with IT requirements (e.g., Security/Section 508) and ensure 

compatibility with CNCS’s technical environment

 Works with OEA to conduct security analysis on all new ToS requests.

6. OFFICIAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Official use is different from an agency user’s personal use. When an agency user communicates 

in an official capacity, he or she is communicating on behalf of CNCS, comparable to standing at 

a podium at a conference, communicating the agency’s views to the audience.
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a) Contribution to CNCS Social Media Accounts

CNCS’s social media accounts help advance the agency’s mission. Programs and state offices

are encouraged to submit content to OEA daily. Employees can contribute content to CNCS’s 

core accounts—including platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and 

YouTube by emailing socialmedia@cns.gov with the proposed content, the requested 

platform, and a brief explanation of the need or benefit of the outreach.

b) PrivacyRequirements

Various laws, including the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended and the Office of Management

and Budget policies on third party sites and multi-session cookies, require federal agencies to 

have policies in place for the protection of individual privacy and PII. Agency users must 

properly safeguard confidential, privileged, classified, privacy-protected and/or CNCS 

information. They must also must comply with the standards of employee conduct and the 

CNCS Privacy Policy, which prohibits disclosure of information learned in the course of the 

work performed at the agency.

The legal requirements, and CNCS’s implementation of the requirements pertaining to the 

protection of CNCS information, individual privacy, and PII, can be found at CNCS’s 

implementing regulations at 45 CFR Part 2508 and CNCS Policy 153, Privacy Policy.

c) Nonpublic Information

An employee may not disclose non-public information. Non-public information may include, but 

is not limited to information that is (1) routinely exempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552 or 

otherwise protected from disclosure by statute, Executive Order, or regulation; (2) is designated as 

confidential by an agency; or (3) has not actually been disseminated to the general public and is 

not authorized to be made available to the public on request.

d) Freedom of Information Act Requirements

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides a right of access to specific federal agency 

records. Voluntary disclosure of information through a social media platform outside the federal

government may waive the application of statutory exemptions under federal law and compromise 

CNCS’s ability to withhold such information in the future. If you have concerns about making 

information publicly available through social media or questions regarding the Freedom of 

Information Act, contact CNCS’s FOIA/Privacy Act Officer by phone at 202-606-6747 or by email

at FOIA@cns.gov.

e) Section508 (Accessibility)Compliance

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 794(d)), requires that 

federal agencies’ electronic platforms are accessible to people with disabilities. Content posted 

on social media must be Section 508 compliant.

f) Comment Policy and Moderation

CNCS fosters conversation on its social media platforms and respects the diversity of opinions 

expressed there. CNCS does not pre-screen or moderate user comments, and user comments are 
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automatically posted. However, they may be removed by an account manager if they violate 

CNCS’s comment policy (see below). It is the account manager/alternate’s responsibility to 

review comments as soon as possible—preferably within two hours of posting.

All users have a responsibility to maintain an appropriate level of professional conduct in the 

workplace, and to treat fellow employees with respect and fairness. CNCS Policy 206, AntiHarassment Policy and Procedures, prohibits harassing conduct (sexual or non-sexual) in any 

CNCS workplace or in any work-related situation at any other location, both during or outside 

normal duty hours. CNCS also prohibits retaliation against an employee who alleges harassment, 

as already defined above, or who assists in any inquiry related to allegations of harassment.

All CNCS social media accounts must post the following comment policy:

CNCS encourages discussion and comments. Your insights help ensure the public is informed and 

can be a part of CNCS’s work every day. Participants are expected to show respect, civility, and 

consideration to the authors and site visitors, who may include children. To that end, we reserve

the discretion to remove a comment if it

 Contains obscene, indecent, vulgar, abusive, or profane language or material

 Contains threats or personal attacks of any kind

 Contains hate speech or any discriminatory remark about race, color, sex, sexual 

orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, or disability

 Is clearly off-topic or spam

 Contains sensitive, confidential, or personally identifiable information

 Promotes or endorses specific commercial services, entities, or products

 Contains defamatory statements

 Contains offensive terms targeting individuals or groups

 Suggests or encourages illegal activity

 Supports the passage or defeat of legislation before the Congress or any state or local 

legislative body

 Advocates or promotes any proposed, pending, or future federal, state, or local tax increase

 Advocates any proposed, pending, or future requirement or restriction on any legal 

consumer product

 Contains unsolicited proposals or other business ideas or inquiries, or any other 

comments deemed inappropriate.

If your comment contains objectionable or inappropriate content, it may be deleted. Comments will

not be edited. To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, please do not include your or 

others’ full name, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security Numbers, case numbers, or any 

other sensitive or personally identifiable information (PII) in your comments or responses. The 

views expressed in the comments only reflect those of the comment’s author, and do not necessarily 

reflect the official views of the agency, or the federal government. Under the Children’s Online 

Privacy Protection Act of 1998, persons under the age of 13 are not allowed to submit questions or 

comments. Comment review will occur during normal business hours. Please ensure that your

comments comply with this policy.
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g) Information Collection and Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) covers the collection of data from the public. The PRA 

requires OMB approval of all surveys or other information collections given to ten (10) or more 

participants. This includes any sort of survey where identical questions are given to ten or more 

participants, regardless of the format. One exception to this requirement is when an agency uses an 

anonymous submission form and users can provide open ended comments or suggestions without

any government guidance on the content.

CNCS’s information collection guidelines can be found in the Clearing Information Collection

Requests policy. Questions about the applicability of the PRA should be directed to the Office of

General Counsel or the Associate Director for Policy.

h) Lobbying and Propaganda

Federal requirements under 18 U.S.C. §1913 and provisions in federal appropriations acts prohibit 

the use of appropriated funds to lobby members of Congress. This includes “grassroots lobbying”—

appealing to members of the public to contact their elected representatives in support of or

opposition to legislative matters or proposals.

“Use of appropriated funds” extends to the payment of employee salaries, equipment, office space, 

etc. Such funds may not be “used directly or indirectly to pay for any personal service, 

advertisement, telegram, telephone, letter, printed or written matter, or other device, intended or 

designed to influence in any manner a Member of Congress, to favor or oppose, by vote or 

otherwise, any legislation or appropriation by Congress, whether before or after the introduction of 

any bill or resolution proposing such legislation or appropriation...”

Federal employees using social media should be mindful of 18 U.S.C. § 1913, because a violation 

or attempt to violate the statute may result in a fine, imprisonment, or removal from government 

office or employment.

All CNCS-authored social media posts must identify CNCS as the source. In December 2015, the

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a finding that a federal agency violated 

publicity or propaganda and anti-lobbying provisions contained in appropriations acts with its use

of certain social media platforms in association with one of the agency’s rulemaking actions, B326944 (Dec. 14, 2015). The provisions discussed in that decision are applicable to CNCS.

Employees of CNCS are prohibited from requesting that social media users post a governmentauthored message to their social media networks, unless the message expressly attributes, or it is 

expressly apparent that, CNCS is the source of the message.

i) Records M a n a g e m e n t

All CNCS-generated content is subject to the requirements of 44 U.S.C. Chapter 31 – Records 

Management by Federal Agencies. Federal records in social media platforms include:

 Social media content records, including entries, comments, blog posts, links, videos, and other 

social media communications
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 Social media site management and operations records, including design, policy and 

procedures, and other social media management records.

To ensure compliance with NARA Bulletin 2014-02, Guidance on Managing Social Media

Records, account managers are responsible for managing records, as defined above, complying 

with CNCS Policy 506 on Records Management, and monitoring any changes to ToS agreements 

that may affect records management.

j) Prohibitions on Engaging with CNCS Personal Social Media Accounts

Official CNCS social media accounts are prohibited from engaging with the personal social media 

accounts of CNCS employees. This prohibition includes tagging, liking, sharing, commenting, retweeting, and quote-tweeting. The prohibition is designed to avoid creating the perception of 

CNCS endorsement of any employee’s personal views.

If employees wish to contribute to the agency’s existing social media accounts, they should 

submit content to socialmedia@cns.gov in accordance with section 6(a) above. Employees are

required to use working hours to perform official duties. Use of CNCS computer systems, 

including all mobile and electronic devices, is subject to CNCS Cybersecurity User Rules of

Behavior (ROB) and restrictions on use which employees sign each year.

Employees are subject to the applicable Standards of Conduct for Employees of the Executive

Branch and the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. 7321-7326) which governs partisan political activity of 

Executive Branch employees. (The link above is for a summary of the Standards of Conduct. To 

see the full regulation go to 5 C.F.R. Part 2635.)

Requesting new accounts, managing accounts, or submitting content on OEA social media 

platforms may trigger the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) or of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). OEA will submit these requests to the Associate Director for 

Policy and OGC for review. CNCS programs are required to work with their legal counsel and 

with the Associate Director for Policy to ensure that social media content does not trigger the 

provisions of FACA or the PRA.

k) Copyright and Fair Use

Copyrighted materials must be used in accordance with current copyright laws (Title 17, U.S. 

Code), which generally requires permission from the copyright owner. However, the doctrine of fair

use is a limitation on copyright owners’ right to prohibit others from using their copyrighted 

material. Title 17, Section 107 of the U.S. Code contains a list of purposes for which the 

reproduction may be considered fair use, as well as a list of factors to consider in making the fair 

use determination. If a copyright or fair use question arises, individuals must contact OEA and 

OGC.

l) Information Quality

The public places a high degree of trust in federal agency content and considers it an authoritative 

source. Under section 515 of Pub. L. No. 106-554, agencies are required to maximize the quality,

objectivity, utility, and integrity of information and services provided to the public. With social
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media information dissemination products, agencies must reasonably ensure suitable information

and service quality that is consistent with the level of importance of the information. Reasonable

steps include: 1) clearly identifying the benefits and limitations inherent in the information

dissemination product (e.g., possibility of errors, degree of reliability, and validity), and 2) taking

reasonable steps to remove the limitations inherent in the product or information produced. Agency 

management must ensure that this agency position is reflected in all communications rather than any

one person’s opinion.

m)Availability to Persons with Limited English Proficiency

Executive Order 13166 requires that agencies take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to 

their federally conducted programs and activities by persons with Limited English proficiency 

(LEP). This was reaffirmed by Attorney General Memorandum: Federal Government's Renewed

Commitment to Language Access Obligations under Executive Order 13166, dated February 17, 

2011.

The use of social media technologies to communicate and collaborate with citizens is a federallyconducted activity. In order to ensure meaningful access by LEP individuals, agencies must

conduct a flexible and fact-dependent individualized assessment that balances four factors:

1) Number or proportion of eligible LEP persons 

2) Frequency of contact

3) Nature and importance of the program or activity

4) Availability of resources.

This framework was established by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to guide federal agencies 

on the implementation of and compliance with Executive Order 13166. For more information on 

LEP at CNCS, please contact CNCS’s Equal Opportunity Program.

n) Security Requirements and Risk Management

The Federal Chief Information Officer Council’s Privacy Best Practices for Social Media 

outlines recommendations for using social media technologies in a manner that minimizes risk 

while also embracing the opportunities these technologies provide.

Federal government information systems may be targeted by persistent, pervasive, and aggressive

threats. In order to mitigate rapidly evolving social media threats, CNCS will:

 Control official use of social media

 Implement user awareness and training (see section 7 below) and maintain in OEA a list of the

employees who have access to CNCS social media accounts and their related training

 Require new employees to sign the CNCS Cybersecurity User Rules of Behavior agreement

 Maintain host and/or network controls

 Secure configuration of social media software to determine overall risk tolerance for use of

social media technologies.

In order to maintain appropriate levels of security for account managers of CNCS social media:

 Every person must have a separate password for each account (CNCS recognizes that some
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social media platforms, by their very nature, are shared by multiple employees). 

 If shared, passwords must be changed when any employee with the password

leaves CNCS or is transferred to a position that no longer requires access to the

account.

 Employees with access to shared accounts must agree to abide by the rules for using a social

media account, as discussed in this policy and at the training identified in paragraph 7 below.

 Employees with access to such accounts may only give access to others once they get OEA’s

authorization via socialmedia@cns.gov.

 All passwords must be changed every 90 days.

 If an employee is leaving CNCS, the account POC must notify

socialmedia@cns.gov no less than 24 hours before departure.

 Upon departure from CNCS, all social media accounts associated with the departing 

employee must be transferred to authorized CNCS personnel.

 Transferred accounts must have passwords changed immediately upon receipt.

OEA will coordinate with OIT to ensure social media technology complies with current security 

approvals and the risk management framework.

o) Emergency Use

In the event of an emergency, social media platforms will be used in accordance with the 

Continuity of Operations Plan, which calls for a coordinated messaging effort between OEA and 

programs or offices. Under no circumstances should a state, program, or campus account first send 

out a message about an emergency. Account managers and/or the designated alternate managers

must wait for guidance from OEA.

7. Personal Use of Social Media

CNCS employees may not create or use personal accounts or handles to conduct official business. 

This includes use of CNCS logos or official pictures in the profiles of personal accounts. The only 

exception regarding CNCS logos is when the social media platform automatically uploads the CNCS 

logo when you enter your place of employment. However, CNCS does encourage employees—

except those employees defined as a senior director, senior political appointee, or senior 

discretionary employee—to re-tweet, favorite, share, and like official CNCS social media on their 

personal accounts, so long as the employee follows the guidance below. Employees may contact

socialmedia@cns.gov with questions.

Examples of CNCS official business that are not allowed on your personal social media account 

include, but are not limited to:

 Using social media messaging platforms (for example, Facebook Messenger, Twitter Direct

Messages, Instagram Direct) in place of CNCS email

 Responding to comments on behalf of CNCS using your personal account.

Official business does not include general amplification of national service news, initiatives, and 

programs, including sharing or retweeting of official CNCS social media.

 If you identify yourself as a CNCS employee in your profile (for example, Facebook Profile,

Twitter Profile, Instagram, etc.) it is highly recommended that your CNCS information includes 
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a disclaimer. If you do not use a disclaimer you may be found to be in violation of misusing your 

position and/or title, or in violation of the Standards of Conduct for Employees of the Executive 

Branch.

 An example of a proper disclaimer is “Views and opinions expressed are my own and do not

state or reflect those of the U.S. Government.”

 CNCS employees may not display any CNCS logos, including the AmeriCorps and Senior 

Corps logos, in their social media profile pictures. This includes Facebook Profile and Cover

photos, Twitter Profile and Header photos, Instagram Profile photos, and personal blogs. This 

includes wearing CNCS, AmeriCorps, or Senior Corps branded uniforms. However, as stated 

above, logos that are automatically uploaded by the social media platform when you enter your

place of employment are allowed in your profile.

 Although CNCS logos and uniforms may not be displayed in profile pictures, they can

be displayed on social media posts such as a tweet, Facebook photo, or Instagram photo. Posts 

that contain CNCS logos or uniforms must avoid the appearance of speaking on behalf of the

agency in your official position. Posts must not imply CNCS endorsement or sanctioning of 

personal opinions.

We encourage personnel to review the FAQs attached to this policy. More information is in the

Office of Government Ethics’ Legal Advisory (LA-15-03) titled “The Standards of Conduct as 

Applied to Personal Social Media Use” and the Office of Special Counsel’s “Hatch Act 

Guidance on Social Media.” Senior directors, senior political appointees, and senior 

discretionary appointees who speak or write on current political events or current policy issues

in their personal capacity must have prior written approval from the White House Office of

Communication and have their comments or writings reviewed by the CNCS Designated 

Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) before participating in each activity.

If employees have questions regarding acceptable personal use or what constitutes official use, 

they are encouraged to discuss these questions with OEA and OGC.

8. Communications and Training

The Director of External Affairs will publish this policy on the CNCS intranet. OEA will

conduct training with program departments, offices, and individuals that are using social media

to communicate on behalf of CNCS, to educate agency users on compliance with this policy.

OEA will also meet with those responsible for supervising contractor performance to ensure 

compliance with this policy.

All account managers and designated alternate managers will be required to sign an agreement that

they have read and understand this policy.

Finally, OEA will work with the Office of Human Capital to implement a learning management 

system course for all CNCS employees to complete annually.

9. AdditionalInformation
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Please contact OEA at socialmedia@cns.gov with any questions about this policy

10. Authority

 OMB Memorandum M-09-12, President’s Memorandum on Transparency and Open

Government – Interagency Collaboration. February 26, 2009

 OMB Memorandum M-10-06, Open Government Directive. December 8, 2009

 OMB Memorandum M-10-23, Guidance for Agency Use of Third-Party Websites and

Applications. June 25, 2010

 Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, and Independent

Regulatory Agencies, Social Media, Web-Based Interactive Technologies, and the Paperwork

Reduction Act. April 7, 2010

 Corporation for National and Community Service, “Open Government Plan,” 

released April 7, 2010.

11. Related Documents

 Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 (absorbed under ClingerCohen Act of 1996) (40 U.S.C. § 1401)

 Records Management by Federal Agencies (44 U.S.C. Chapter 31)

 Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794(d)), as amended by the Workforce 

Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220) (August 7, 1998)

 Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552(a))

 Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended; Paperwork Reduction Reauthorization Act of

1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35)

 Presidential Memorandum, Managing Government Records. November 28, 2011

 Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, 5 C.F.R. Part 2635

 OMB Memorandum M-13-10, Antideficiency Act Implications of Certain Online Terms of 

Service Agreements. April 4, 2013

 The Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7326

 The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552

 Federal Advisory Committee Act 5 U.S.C. app. as amended

 Political Activities of Federal Employees, 5 CFR part 734

 Copyright Law, 17 U.S.C. Ch. 1-13

 OMB Memorandum M-10-22: Guidance for Online Use of Web Measurement and 

Customization Technologies. June 25, 2010

 National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Bulletin 2014-02, Guidance on

Managing Social Media Records. October 25, 2013

 Office of Special Counsel, The Hatch Act FAQs on Federal Employees and Use of Social

Media

 U.S. Office of Government Ethics, LA-15-03, The Standards of Conduct as Applied to

Personal Social Media Use. April 9, 2015

 CNCS FOIA Guidance and Procedures

 CNCS Producing Public Documents: Print and Digital Policy, No 104

 CNCS Cybersecurity Policy, No 376
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12. Definitions

Electronic messages are “electronic mail and other electronic messaging systems that are used for 

purposes of communicating between individuals” (44 U.S.C. § 2911(c)(1)).

Non-official/personal use: personal day-to-day use of social media sites by agency users that is 

unrelated to their official duties.

Official use: social media engagement on behalf of the agency, and as authorized by the agency, on 

sites where CNCS has an official web presence and a Terms of Service agreement.

Personnel: all CNCS employees, contractors, interns, members, and volunteers

Social media: tools and technologies that allow an agency user to share communications, postings 

or information, or participate in social networking, including but not limited to: blogs (such as

Twitter or Tumblr), social networks (such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+), video and photo

sharing websites (such as Instagram, Flickr), online forums and discussion boards (including

commenting online using media websites), and automated data feeds. “Social media” does not

include non-public tools and technologies, such as CNCS’s internal SharePoint site.
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Attachment: Personal Social Media Use FAQs

Corporation for National and Community Service

January 2019

At CNCS, we understand that social media use is complex and ever-changing. These FAQs 

are meant as a companion to the agency’s official social media policy. While this list does 

not cover every use of every social media platform, we hope that it provides general

guidance on navigating personal social media as a federal employee.

This is a living document that will continue to be updated. If you have any specific 

questions, please contact the CNCS’s Designated Agency Ethics Official.

As an employee, it is your responsibility to ensure that your personal social media accounts

are in compliance as of the effective date on the CNCS Social Media Policy (12/15/2017) 

or your date of employment, whichever is most recent.

1) May I identify as a CNCS employee on my social media accounts?

Yes, as CNCS staff you have the option to identify yourself as a CNCS employee in your 

profile, but you cannot conduct official business or set up your account and posts in a way

that implies you are speaking on behalf of the agency in your official position. Additionally, 

you may include your title or position as one of several profile details when such information

is given to identify you, provided that it is not given more prominence than other significant

profile details.

2) I don’t identify as a CNCS employee on my personal social media. Does the 

social media policy still apply to me?

There are sections of the social media policy and these FAQs still apply to you. Notably, the 

Hatch Act and the prohibition on conducting official business from your personal accounts 

applies whether or not you identify as a CNCS employee online.

If you do not identify as an employee, you do not need to place a disclaimer on your social

media profile. However, if your followers know you are a CNCS employee and you are 

discussing CNCS in any way, we recommend you place a disclaimer on your account.

3) What do you mean by “official business?”

Official business includes, but is not limited to:

 Disclosing non-public information that you are privy to as a CNCS employee

 Using social media messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger, Twitter Direct 

Messages, and Instagram Direct in place of CNCS email for business 

communications

 Responding to comments using your personal account in a way that speaks on behalf of

the agency in your official capacity.

At the first opportunity, you should direct CNCS inquires to official CNCS platforms and 

mailboxes. See the examples below on how you should transition as quickly as possible 

from social media comments and messages to official CNCS email to conduct government 

business. For comments and inquiries posted on official CNCS accounts, all official CNCS 

account holders should respond as the official account rather than as their personal account.
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Appropriate use:

Inappropriate use:

4) I identify as a CNCS employee on my personal social media. How do I show that

these are my personal views and not those of the agency?

We highly recommend that all employees identifying as CNCS staff on social media put a

disclaimer in their profile stating that “All views and opinions expressed are my own and 

do not state or reflect those the U.S. Government.”

Examples:

Facebook Profile:

Copy and paste the disclaimer in the section of your profile that mentions your CNCS 

employment.
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Twitter Profile:

Add an abbreviated version of the disclaimer for character limits: 

“Tweets are my own & don’t reflect CNCS.”

5) May I retweet, share Facebook posts, or promote other official CNCS messages 

on my personal account?

Yes, you can certainly share the public messaging of CNCS on your social media accounts.

There is nothing wrong with retweeting Senior Corps or sharing an AmeriCorps Facebook

post. The only exception are those employees described in the Social Media Policy section 

4b.

It becomes an issue when you editorialize the content while confirming your position as a

CNCS employee in a way that appears to speak on behalf of the agency.

Inappropriate Post:

Appropriate Post:

 
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The key difference between these two statements is that, in the Inappropriate Post, Alex 

identifies as a CNCS employee while advocating an opinion related to the agency. It can be

reasonably perceived that Alex is commenting under an official government capacity of 

CNCS in this post.

6) May I share online content created by external outlets that discusses CNCS 

programs, initiatives, and/or funding?

Yes, you may share external content about national service, including news articles and blogs, 

as long as you do not editorialize the content while confirming your position as a CNCS 

employee in a way that appears to speak on behalf of the agency.

Note: For questions regarding partisan political content, please see the Hatch Act section 

below (Questions 11-13).

7) May I display any CNCS, AmeriCorps, or Senior Corps logos, uniforms, or

gear in my social media profile pictures?

No. CNCS employees may not display any CNCS logos, including the AmeriCorps or

Senior Corps logos, in their social media profile pictures. This includes Facebook Profile

and Cover photos, Twitter Profile and Header photos, Instagram Profile photos, and 

personal blogs profile photos. This includes wearing CNCS, AmeriCorps, or Senior Corps 

branded uniforms. The only exception regarding CNCS logos in your profile is when the

social media platform automatically uploads the CNCS logo when you enter your place of

employment.

8) May I display any CNCS, AmeriCorps, or Senior Corps logos, uniforms, or

gear in my social media profile pictures during AmeriCorps Week or Senior 

Corps Week?

No, even during special events and promotions, employees are prohibited from displaying

CNCS logos in their profile photos, cover photos, or header photos. We encourage you to

find other ways to show your spirit!

9) What about logos that auto-populate? For example, LinkedIn and Facebook 

automatically use the CNCS logo when I put my place of employment in my 

profile.

This is a permissible use of logo. Make sure that there is a disclaimer on your profile as 

outlined above. Additionally, you may include your title or position as one of several profile 

details when such information is given to identify you, provided that it is not given more 

prominence than other significant profile details.

10) May I post images of CNCS logos or photos of me in CNCS gear on social media?

If the photos are not in your profile picture and do not imply CNCS endorsement or 

sanctioning of personal statements and/or opinions, you may post a photo that includes 

CNCS logos on your social media account. However, when there is a question regarding

whether you are using your personal social media account within the bounds of the 

Executive Branch Standards of Conduct, an ethics official will look at all the facts, including

but not limited to your disclaimer, biographical information and the level of CNCS reference 

compared to other non-CNCS references on your account.
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Appropriate Use: Inappropriate Use:

Hatch Act

11) The policy states that using social media in an official capacity to engage in political 

activity is a violation of the Hatch Act. Does this include my personal social media

if I identify as a CNCS employee in my profile?

You are most likely safe. To violate the Hatch Act, you clearly need to be on duty, in a 

federal workspace, or otherwise tied to acting in your official capacity. Merely naming

where you work in your profile does not meet that standard.

One important exception is sharing, retweeting, or liking social media content that solicits 

partisan political contributions. As a federal employee, you cannot solicit or fundraise for

partisan political contributions at any time or under any circumstance, including social media.

So make sure if you are sharing, retweeting, or liking social media content that links to a 

partisan political party or candidate it is to a page that is not directly soliciting donations.

12) What if I retweet or share content that links to a campaign website on my personal

social media?

As a federal employee, you may link to a campaign webpage as long as the linked webpage is

not the donation page, where you are specifically required to enter your credit/debit card in 

order to make a donation.

13) What about sharing online content that advocates for or against legislation, 

like a Congressional budget or President’s budget?

If you identify as a CNCS employee on your personal social media, you cannot encourage 

citizens to lobby for agency funding or legislation in a way that implies you are speaking in

your official capacity. Federal employees can never encourage citizens to contact Congress in

our official capacity.