Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Social Media Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Benbrook council adopts stricter social media policy, disables public comments on posts
Summary
Benbrook City Council unanimously adopted revisions to Administrative Regulation G15 to designate city social media accounts as a limited public forum, require department contact information on posts and disable public commenting and direct messaging; the policy takes effect immediately.
Benbrook City Council on May 1 adopted a revised social media policy that designates the city’s social media accounts as a limited public forum, disables public comment and direct messaging on city posts and requires each post to include department contact information.
City Manager (name not specified) told the council staff reviewed Administrative Regulation G15, originally adopted in October 2010, and proposed updates to make city social media a one‑way communications channel intended to inform the public rather than host interactive conversations. The draft policy was reviewed by the city attorney, the city manager said, and would become effective immediately if adopted.
The revisions require content to be related to city operations and approved by the city manager, allow only designated personnel to manage accounts, and mandate that posts include a department name plus a phone number or email address so residents know how to contact the right staff. The city manager said existing staff members who perform social media duties will remain responsible; the policy does not create a new dedicated social media monitor position.
Councilmember Renee Franklin moved to adopt the revised policy; Councilmember Mackey seconded. After brief questions from Franklin about which platforms the policy covers — the city manager said Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor were used — and a comment from Mackey noting that users can still share posts to widen reach, the council voted and the motion carried unanimously.
The council and staff emphasized the change is intended to streamline responses and direct users to the appropriate department rather than remove avenues for citizens to contact the city. The policy also requires the city to retain social media records “as required by law,” the city manager said.
The council did not direct staff to pursue additional outreach or a public education campaign tied to the policy change during the meeting.
