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Cave Springs reviews social‑media policy after court rulings; staff recommends turning off public comments on city pages
Summary
Staff recommended disabling public commenting on city-controlled social media to reduce First Amendment risks after recent court decisions; council discussed selective-use options, alert systems and outsourcing posting responsibilities.
City staff reviewed a proposed social-media and website policy that would limit public commenting on city-run social-media pages, citing recent court decisions about when an official’s social-media account becomes a public forum.
A staff presenter explained that when public and private content are mixed on an official’s page, courts have sometimes found the page to be a public forum; the draft policy therefore recommends disabling public comments on city-controlled pages and directing residents to contact City Hall by phone or email for information.
Councilmembers discussed practical exceptions — for example, allowing comments for certain informational posts — and the value of the city’s existing alert/zone system for targeted notices. Several members urged the city to create design and posting guidelines and suggested department heads remain the primary points of contact for after-hours emergency notices.
No final policy decision was made; staff said it will return with a refined draft and specific design proposals for departmental pages.
