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# Council’s social media guide warns councillors not to be sarcastic online
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/councils-social-media-guide-warns-councillors-not-to-be-sarcastic-online/
- Published: 2015-09-25T07:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2015-09-24T12:46:50.000Z
- Description: New social media guidelines are warning Lichfield and Burntwood councillors not to use sarcasm online.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Politics

New social media guidelines are warning Lichfield and Burntwood councillors not to use sarcasm online.

The new Lichfield District Council protocols will be discussed at a meeting of the local authority next week.

[The document](https://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/Council/Meetings-committees-and-papers/FullCouncil/2015/09/29/Agenda/AGENDA-ITEM-10-1.pdf?ref=lichfieldlive.co.uk) outlines the benefits of councillors engaging in social media.

“A revolution is taking place in how we communicate,” the guide says. “The world is experiencing the biggest ever change in how information is created and owned, as well as the speed in which it can be shared.

“We live in an open, accessible and dynamic communications world. The use of social media will help ensure your voice is heard.”

But the report also warns councillors of the pitfalls of engaging with people via social media.

“Avoid being ironic or sarcastic, it can be misinterpreted,” the council’s social media guide warns.

“On Facebook you will need to monitor and, if necessary, censor the contributions that other people make to your site.

“It is up to you to decide if you want to remove posts that disagree with your political position, however if you do remove them you may be accused of censoring contributions on political grounds.

“Tweeting on meeting progress and receiving comments from the community can be helpful for transparency and engagement – but excessive use of Twitter may give people the impression you are not concentrating on the business in hand or are even relying on guidance from outside the meeting.”