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Greer council adopts website and social media policy to set online rules of engagement
Summary
Council approved a resolution establishing website copyright and social media terms of use after staff described the new policy and extensive discussion on free speech, moderation and record-keeping for content removal.
Greer City Council approved Resolution 5-20-25 on March 25 adopting city policies governing website copyright and social media terms of use, including procedures for moderating, documenting and linking policy language from social accounts to the city website.
Michelle Willis, who presented the measure, said the policy is intended to provide transparent, posted rules for how city accounts interact with the public. "Thus far we have been operating a website and social media accounts, without any sort of published guardrails," Willis said. She said the policy will be posted on the city website at launch and linked from the "about" sections of official social media profiles so users know the terms of use.
Willis told council the policy includes copyright guidance for city-produced content, a process for staff to log and justify removals or hiding of content, and an appeals-style record so citizens can see any changes. She said staff will train account managers and maintain a running spreadsheet and screenshot evidence for any moderated items to create an auditable record.
Council discussion ranged from procedural questions to First Amendment concerns. Councilman Arrowood asked why a policy was necessary at all; Willis and other council members responded that a public policy reduces legal risk and gives staff objective criteria for removing hate speech, misinformation or off-topic incendiary posts. "When it is underneath the umbrella of the city of Greer, it can almost look like we're endorsing, their speech or their misinformation," Willis said, describing the rationale for having published rules.
Other council members said they favored clear guardrails. Several members raised practical questions about how the policy will be displayed on social profiles, how legal counsel will be consulted on borderline cases, and how staff will ensure the policy evolves with new platforms and technologies.
Council adopted the resolution on first and final reading by roll call vote. The policy will be posted when the city's redesigned website is launched and staff said they will bring updates to council as online platforms and technology change.
Why it matters: The policy establishes a consistent, public process for moderating city-run accounts and creates a documented workflow to justify and record any removal or alteration of public comments, reducing legal and transparency risks for the city.
