City of Montgomery Social Media Policy

Purpose

The City of Montgomery maintains official social media accounts to share information about city programs, services, and initiatives, and to engage with residents on matters of public concern. These accounts are designated as limited public forums for discussion of topics related to city governance.

Scope

This policy applies to all official City of Montgomery social media accounts operated by city departments, offices, and employees acting in an official capacity.

Forum Designation

City social media pages are limited public forums. Public comments must relate to the topics posted by the City. The City reserves the right to remove comments that violate this policy, provided removal is content-neutral and viewpoint-neutral.

Comment Guidelines

Comments and posts must:

• Be on-topic and relevant to the post.
• Not contain:
  • Profane, obscene, or vulgar language.
  • Threats of violence or unlawful activity.
  • Discriminatory or harassing content.
  • Spam or commercial solicitations.
  • Personally identifiable information (e.g., addresses, phone numbers).
  • Personal attacks of any kind.
  • Offensive material that targets or disparages any ethnic, racial, age, or religious group, gender, sexual orientation or disability status are prohibited.

Note: Comments will not be removed based on viewpoint or criticism of the City.

Moderation

Moderation will be conducted in a consistent and transparent manner. Removed comments will be documented and archived for compliance with public records laws. Users who repeatedly violate this policy may be temporarily restricted from posting.

Records Retention

All posts, comments, and messages on official City accounts are considered public records under Alabama law and will be retained in accordance with applicable retention schedules.

Account Management

Accounts must be registered with the City’s Communications Office. Use official branding and disclaimers. Enable security measures (e.g., multi-factor authentication). Assign designated staff for posting and moderation.

Legal Compliance

This policy is intended to comply with: First Amendment principles governing public forums, Alabama Public Records Act, and applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Disclaimer

The City of Montgomery does not endorse any opinions expressed by external commenters. Participation in City social media is voluntary and subject to this policy.