Social media is a point in question all professional bodies need to address. Forming a sound social media policy is essential for protecting intellectual property and confidential information.

For some organisations, social media is an essential part of their marketing strategy. Social media can assist in networking and showcasing work. Some industries, however, are heavily regulated and communication is managed, audited and archived.

While platforms such as Twitter and Facebook may not be part of daily work activities, it is crucial for guidelines to be set on what can be communicated virtually. The implications of employees mentioning work activities on a personal Facebook account may amount to a breech of confidentiality agreements.

Email is relatively easy to regulate as organisations provide employees with a professional email address to conduct work activities over. These employees often have a personal email account to communicate non-work activities. The problem with social media is there may not be separate professional and personal profiles. All professional bodies that may or may not be using social media should have a policy in place for their employees.

Points to consider when composing a social media strategy:

• Acceptable Use of Social Media for Business ActivitiesUser name and password logging protocolsBanning provocative comments about existing or potential competitorsNot disclosing private affiliations when posting

  Acceptable Use of Company Social Media Accounts

  Whether it acceptable for employees to post personal information on company profiles

  Acceptable sense of humor

  Avoiding religious or controversial topics

  Policies on promoting company products or services

  The social media policy should include how members of the organisation can use its intellectual property, including data, logos and strategy.