SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
Social Media and Electronic Communications Policy
Compton Dando Nomads Cricket Club members should not engage in any form of electronic communication or media outlets that could be deemed detrimental to the club or bringing the game into disrepute.
The following statements are adapted from the ECB guidelines on social media, text and email for safeguarding young persons.
E-mail, Facebook and Twitter accounts are great for promoting the club and cricket in general, as well as being a fun way to unwind and stay in touch with friends: It is however essential to keep these two worlds separate.
Coaches/managers, senior players and club officials/members should have separate cricket-club related and personal pages.
All contact with junior players should be through the former, and strictly in relation to training, coaching, matches and cricket-related activity.
Coaches/managers senior players and club officials/members are not to send text messages to juniors. All arrangements are to be made via their parents.
Coaches/managers senior players and club officials/members must obtain consent before posting any personal information online – this includes photographs where an individual can be identified.
Coaches/managers senior players and club officials/members are not to send private messages to children and young people via social media
Coaches/managers, senior players and club officials/members are not to Invite or accept children and young people to become “friends” on social media accounts
Coaches/managers senior players and club officials/members are not to send inappropriate text messages or post messages on social media that are offensive or derogatory in any way.
Coaches/managers senior players and club officials/members must be mindful of who may have access to material you share via social media, including Facebook, Twitter and other platforms.
Coaches/managers senior players and club officials/members should also adjust the privacy settings for a personal account so that content is only visible to accepted ‘friends’. This will keep younger players safe from material that may be unsuitable for them and will reduce the risk of online interactions being viewed with suspicion.
If you suspect that someone is using social media in an unsafe or inappropriate manner, you should report their behaviour to your Club Welfare Officer, the County Welfare Officer, or the ECB Safeguarding team – email safeguarding@ecb.co.uk
Parental Guidance
It is against Facebook’s rules for your child to have an account if they’re under thirteen years old. This is to prevent them from being exposed to potentially inappropriate content. You will find all you need to know about keeping young teens safe on Facebook on their official safety page for parents: http://www.facebook.com/safety/groups/parents/.
You may also want to have a look at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre’s guide to the internet for parents and carers: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/Parentsold
It’s important that your child feels they can talk to someone if they are being bullied online, or if they’ve been exposed to something that makes them upset or uncomfortable
Provide the club with your email and/or telephone number to receive texts and emails regarding your child’s matches and training if the club requests this.
Make sure you are aware of who your child has contact with online and via text.
Talk to your children about using social media.
Guidance for Children and Young People
The internet is a great place to learn and to have fun with your friends, and the best way to have fun is to make sure that you stay safe. You should think about the points below whenever you use the internet or speak to people online or by text:
If someone isn’t your friend in real life, they aren’t your friend on the internet.
Be careful when accepting friend requests.
Sometimes people on the internet aren’t who they say they are. If you’re not 100% sure, don’t risk it.
Remember to change your privacy settings so that only your friends can see information about you, your wall posts and your photos.
If someone is sending you messages or texts that you are worried about, you should tell your parents, an adult you trust, your teacher, your coach/manager or your club’s welfare officer.
Remember that your coach/manager is just like your teachers. They should not be your friend on Facebook, and should not be texting or messaging you.
You can expect them to make arrangements for coaching and matches via your parents.
Keep your photos and personal information private.
Bullying can happen online too, and it’s known as cyber-bullying. If you, or someone you know, has had this happen to them you should tell an adult that you can trust.
Do not send inappropriate text messages or post messages on social media that are offensive or nasty in any way.
Don’t be afraid to tell someone you trust if you have concerns.