Management Assistance Report: Use of Personal Social Media Accounts to Conduct Official Business

The Office of Policy, Planning and Resources, in coordination with the Bureau of Public Affairs and the Bureau of International Information Programs, should clarify the distinction in the Foreign Affairs Manual between personal and official social media postings and give examples of each type.

The Office of Policy, Planning and Resources should issue periodic, regular notices to Department employees to remind them of the Department’s policies regarding the use of personal social media accounts.

The Office of Policy, Planning and Resources, in coordination with the Bureau of Public Affairs and the Bureau of International Information Programs, should review the personal Twitter accounts of ambassadors and other senior Department officials and take appropriate action to remedy any violations of Department policy.