Official BYU social media accounts exist to support and advance BYU’s unique mission. Every post from an official BYU social media account represents the university and its sponsoring institution, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church of Jesus Christ). This policy outlines principles for managing official BYU social media accounts. With this policy, the university aims to maintain an effective online presence, protect its reputation, and foster meaningful engagement with key audiences while upholding the mission and values of BYU and the Church of Jesus Christ.

For purposes of this policy, key terms are defined as follows:

Account Manager means a non-student BYU employee who has received training on the university’s Social Media standards and practices and who is responsible for approving all Content posted to a specific Social Media Account and for supervising the account’s Social Media Support Team. For accounts for faculty research labs or required by grants, the Account Manager is the faculty member overseeing the lab or grant work.

Content means any media that is posted to or published by any Social Media Account, including any comments made by or private messages sent via a Social Media Account.

Entity means any official BYU group, organization, or association, including BYUSA clubs, student academic associations, extramural sports teams, labs, centers, etc.

Platform means a site or application that is used for creating or posting social media content, including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube. A website is not a Platform.

Post means one piece of Content published to a Social Media Account.

Social Media means sites and applications that enable users to create and share content and to participate in social networking.

Social Media Account or Account means an official BYU-branded profile on behalf of any campus unit, Entity, or research project on any Platform.

Social Media Support Team means a group of BYU employees who work together on a specific Social Media Account. It includes student employees and excludes the Account Manager.

All Social Media Accounts must be approved by the University Strategic Communications Committee (SCC). Social Media Accounts created to support faculty research, including those managed as a requirement of research grants, must adhere to this policy and must be approved by SCC. See Social Media Management Procedures for details related to submitting Account proposals, managing Accounts, and maintaining alignment with BYU’s mission.

If the SCC grants approval for a Social Media Account, the SCC registers the Account as an officially recognized university Account and provides required instruction and training to the requesting campus unit or Entity.

All Content posted on Social Media Accounts must reflect and support the mission and values of the university and the Church of Jesus Christ. Content must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and university policy, including the Church Educational System Honor Code. Account Managers are responsible for ensuring that the rights and privacy of individuals are respected and preserved. Account Managers must review and approve each Post prior to publication.

Only individuals who work on a Social Media Support Team and who have completed Social Media training with University Communications may publish Posts on any Social Media Account. Account Managers are responsible for all Content on their Social Media Accounts, even if posted by a member of the Social Media Support Team.

Content must follow the guidelines found in the Social Media Management Procedures, as well as the BYU Brand Guide. University Communications can require the removal of any Content from any Social Media Account.

The SCC provides training and conducts audits regularly to ensure that

• this policy is understood and followed,
• Social Media Accounts are active and appropriately support and advance BYU’s mission,
• Social Media Accounts are effective in meeting communication objectives outlined in the Account proposal, and
• Social Media resources are used appropriately.

All Account Managers and Social Media Support Team members are required to participate in annual Social Media training from the SCC, unless specifically exempted by the SCC.

In addition, Account Managers are expected to attend monthly Social Media Committee meetings. Members of the Social Media Support Team are invited to attend as well.

The SCC, with the approval of the campus unit or Entity’s supervisor, can suspend or remove any Social Media Account that violates this policy or the Social Media Management Procedures.

The SCC, with the approval of the Account Manager’s responsible vice president, may revoke the Account Manager’s Social Media Account management privileges in cases where an Account Manager consistently fails to adhere to this policy or the Social Media Management Procedures.

If an Account Manager wishes to terminate a Social Media Account, the Account Manager must submit a request to the SCC. Upon reviewing and approving the request, the SCC coordinates with appropriate parties to ensure proper Account closure.