Principle 1
NSOs develop and implement a social media strategy. The strategy should consider the coordination and responsibility for social media, including communication; digital education; athlete and NSO promotion; and the management of inappropriate social media activity by athletes, staff and members.
Social media is no different to any other area of a NSOs business or communications function – it requires consideration, investment and strategy to fully optimise its use.
Social media management can be a time-consuming task when an athlete or organisation has a large following and high levels of engagement. To effectively manage social media, the NSO should consider how coordination and responsibility between different areas of the business will operate. The NSO should consider its social media strategy, not only to effectively use social media but also to ensure the NSO is across any compliance obligations, including in relation to defamation and workplace health and safety issues where an online presence is part of an employee's job description. NSOs should also implement appropriate monitoring of social media in conjunction with their wider communications strategy.
Monitoring does not imply scrutiny at all times over content. Rather it is about engagement with other social media users and being able to engage in conversations and/or respond to arbitrary/inappropriate/spam messages. It is ensuring processes and systems are in place for social media content both outwardly (publishing of content) as well as inwardly (responding to content, be it genuine enquiry or inappropriate material).