SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDANCE FOR UNIFORMED SERVICE MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NAVY

[Tony]

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SUBJ/SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDANCE FOR UNIFORMED SERVICE MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
NAVY//

REF/A/DOC/DOD MEMORANDUM/19FEB25//
REF/B/DOC/DOD INSTRUCTION 5400.17 CH-2/24JAN23//
REF/C/DOC/ DOD INSTRUCTION 8170.01 CH-1/24AUG21//
REF/D/DOC/SECNAV INSTRUCTION 5720.44C CH-2/10APR19//
REF/E/DOC/10 U.S.C. SECTION 801 ET SEQ.//
REF/F/DOC/U.S. MARINE CORPS 2021 SOCIAL MEDIA HANDBOOK//
REF/G/DOC/NAVY SOCIAL MEDIA HANDBOOK//
REF/H/MSG/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/171606ZJUL24//
REF/I/DOC/DOD DIRECTIVE 1344.10/19FEB08//

NARR/REF A IS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DoD) MEMORANDUM REMINDER ON SERVICE 
MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
REF B IS THE DOD INSTRUCTION ON OFFICIAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR PUBLIC 
AFFAIRS PURPOSES.
REF C IS THE DOD INSTRUCTION ON ONLINE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND ELECTRONIC 
MESSAGING.
REF D IS THE SECNAV INSTRUCTION ON DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY PUBLIC AFFAIRS 
POLICY AND REGULATIONS.
REF E IS THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.
REF F IS THE USMC SOCIAL MEDIA HANDBOOK.
REF G IS THE NAVY SOCIAL MEDIA HANDBOOK.
REF H IS THE ALNAV PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON THE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF 
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY PERSONNEL.
REF I IS THE DOD DIRECTIVE ON POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES.//

RMKS/1.  The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense released reference (a) 
requesting the Secretaries of the Military Departments provide guidance 
reminding all Service Members of the relevant Departmental policies governing 
the expression of their own political opinions and the traditions and norms 
of military service.

2.  Service Members may establish social media accounts for personal, non-
official use.  Personal social media accounts must be clearly identifiable as 
personal accounts and may not be used to conduct official Department of the 
Navy (DON) or DoD communications, unless by exception identified in paragraph 
3.26.a of reference (c).  Use of military titles or appearance in uniform 
alone is not prohibited on personal social media accounts.  However, Service 
Members must ensure that personal social media accounts avoid use of DON or 
DoD titles, insignia, uniforms, or symbols in a way that could imply DON or 
DoD sanction or endorsement of personal content.
Where confusion or doubt is likely to arise regarding the personal nature of 
social media activities, Service Members are encouraged to include a 
disclaimer clarifying that their social media communications reflect only 
their personal views and do not necessarily represent the views of the DON, 
DoD, or the United States.  As the position and grade of individual Service 
Members increase, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between 
personal opinions and official positions of the DON or DoD.  Senior personnel 
are highly encouraged to include a disclaimer on personal social media 
communications.
    a.  A sample disclaimer reads:  "The opinions and views expressed here 
belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the 
Department of Defense (DoD) or its components.  Any mention of commercial 
products or services does not imply DoD endorsement. Additionally, the 
presence of external hyperlinks does not signify DoD approval of the linked 
websites or their content, products, or services."

3.  Service Members are permitted to use personal social media accounts to 
forward, like, or link to official information, provided it is done in a 
manner that does not express or imply DON or DoD sanction or endorsement of 
any personal content, and does not result in the unauthorized disclosure or 
dissemination of non-public information (or unclassified information that 
reveals classified information when aggregated).  While Service Members may 
generally express their personal views on public issues, uniformed service 
brings certain limitations to expression, including on social media.
    a.  Service Members are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice 
(UCMJ) (reference (e)), and Navy or Marine Corps regulations while on and off 
duty.  Certain provisions of reference (e) restrict the expression of Service 
Members, including but not limited to: Article 88, Contempt Towards 
Officials; Article 92, Failure to Obey an Order or Regulation; Article 133, 
Conduct Unbecoming an Officer; and Article 134, Disorders and Neglects to the 
Prejudice of Good Order and Discipline or Conduct of a Nature to Bring 
Discredit Upon the Armed Forces.  In accordance with references (b) and (c), 
language that may tend to diminish the confidence in or respect due to his or 
her superior officer(s) is prohibited to be published by Service Members, per 
the UCMJ.
    b.  Service Members are encouraged to refrain from media engagement in 
matters of U.S. Government, DoD, and DON policy.

4.  References (h) and (i) provide non-exhaustive lists of permissible and 
prohibited political activities by Service Members.  Service Members may not 
engage in partisan political activity while on duty and should avoid 
inferences that their personal political activities imply, or appear to 
imply, official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement by the DON or DoD.

5.  This ALNAV is not all-encompassing or an authoritative source for all 
regulations pertaining to the use of social media by Service Members.  For 
further guidance, Service Members should review the references.
    a.  Reference (f) can be found at 
[https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/docs/2021usmcsocialmediahanbook.pdf
    b.  Reference (g) can be found at https://www.navy.mil/Social-Media/
    c.  Reference (h) can be found at 
[https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/ALNAV/ALN2024/ALN24061.txt?
ver=GsHur1JAR0_ynNu6T3Qwsg%3d%3d
6.  Released by Mr. Terence G. Emmert, Acting Secretary of the Navy.//

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