Clackamas County Community Social Media Guidelines

 

Purpose

Clackamas County’s official social media accounts are important tools for sharing news, services, and information with our community. We welcome public engagement and encourage respectful dialogue.

Comments posted by the public on our social media pages reflect individual viewpoints and do not represent the opinions or policies of Clackamas County.

While we respect and uphold the First Amendment, our social media accounts operate as limited public forums. This means we allow a broad range of discussion but reserve the right to enforce reasonable, content-neutral restrictions to ensure the safety, relevance, and integrity of our platforms.

Definitions

• Social Media Accounts: Official  -managed platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, and others. (Please see our social media page)
• Comments: User-generated content, including text, images, emojis, GIFs, memes, links, and videos posted in response to county content.
• Users: Members of the public who view, follow, or interact with county social media accounts.

Scope & Application

• These guidelines apply to all official Clackamas County social media platforms.
• County staff responsible for managing these accounts are tasked with enforcing the guidelines.
• Social media channels are not monitored 24/7. For emergencies, always dial 911.
• Service requests or complaints requiring action should be submitted through official county service channels, not social media.
• Comments are subject to the Oregon public records law (ORS 192.311).

Expectations for Engagement

We ask community members to engage respectfully, stay on topic, and help maintain a constructive environment. Civil disagreement is welcome; harassment and abusive behavior are not.

Content Moderation & Forum Protocol

Public comments are generally welcome. However, Clackamas County reserves the right to hide or remove comments that violate these guidelines or applicable laws. Comments are never removed solely because they are critical of the County.

Examples of content that may be hidden or removed include (but are not limited to):

1. Profanity, obscenity, or sexually explicit material

   • Vulgar, offensive, or sexually suggestive language or images.
   • Material that appeals to prurient interests and lacks serious value.
   • Inappropriate humor

2. Hate speech or discrimination

   • Attacks, slurs, or disparaging language based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

3. Threats and incitement of violence

   • Direct or indirect threats toward individuals, groups, or County staff.
   • Encouragement of illegal activity or violence.

4. Defamation, false information, or personal attacks

   • False statements intended to damage a person’s reputation.
   • Harassing, bullying, or hostile language directed at individuals or groups.
   • Deliberately misleading claims presented as fact.

5. Commercial solicitations and spam

   • Repetitive posts of the same message or link.
   • Unsolicited promotions, advertising, or fundraising not sponsored by Clackamas County.

6. Malicious or harmful content

   • Malware, phishing attempts, or harmful links.
   • Content that could compromise the security of County systems or public devices.
   • Be in violation of any applicable federal, state or local laws, or promote the violation of such.

7. Off-topic or irrelevant content

   • Posts unrelated to the subject matter of the County’s post.
   • Comments intended to derail or distract from a discussion.

8. Copyright or intellectual property violations

   • Posting materials without the permission of the owner or required attribution.

9. Private or personal information

   • Sharing of phone numbers, home addresses, financial details, medical information, or other sensitive personal data.

 

Public Records Transparency

All content, including hidden or deleted posts, may be archived and could be subject to disclosure under Oregon public records law (ORS 192.311).

Disclaimers

• Comments posted by members of the public do not reflect the views, positions, or policies of Clackamas County.
• We are not responsible for any personal or sensitive information disclosed voluntarily by users in public comments.
• External links shared on our accounts or in public comments are not endorsements, and Clackamas County is not responsible for the content or security of third-party sites.

No Endorsements

Following, liking, or sharing content from outside individuals, groups, or organizations does not imply Clackamas County endorsement. It is solely a communication or engagement action.

Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or appeals related to social media content or these guidelines, please contact:

Clackamas County Public & Government Affairs
PGA@clackamas.us