Social Media Use Guidelines

Working and Discussion groups may wish to start their own Twitter Feeds, Facebook, LinkedIN Groups, etc. We encourage these activities. Make your own group logo! Have fun! Just be sure to follow the Kantara Logo Usage Guidelines.  All custom Work Group & Discussion Group logo’s being released need to be approved by the Leadership Council before they are made public. Some simple and polite rules for engaging in social media are included for your consideration when taking part in social activities.

1. Be transparent and state that you are a Member or Participant of KANTARA. Your honesty will be noted in the Social Media environment. If you are writing about KANTARA or a competitor, use your real name, identify that you are a Member or Participant of KANTARA, and be clear about your role. If you have a vested interest in what you are discussing, be the first to say so.
2. Be mindful of the KANTARA policy with regards to potential antitrust considerations, such as the discussion of competitive business terms while representing a KANTARA viewpoint (http://www.ieee-isto.org/sites/default/files/ISTO%20Antitrust%20Guidelines_Approved_081217.pdf)
3. Never represent yourself or KANTARA in a false or misleading way. All statements must be true and not misleading; all claims must be substantiated.
4. Post meaningful, respectful comments — in other words, please, no spam and no remarks that are off-topic or offensive.
5. Use common sense and common courtesy: for example, it’s best to ask permission to publish or report on conversations that are meant to be private or internal to KANTARA. Make sure your efforts to be transparent don't violate KANTARA obligations to third-parties regarding confidentiality, or reveal any private KANTARA discussions.
6. Stick to your area of expertise and do feel free to provide unique, individual perspectives on non-private activities at KANTARA.
7. When disagreeing with others' opinions, keep it appropriate and polite. If you find yourself in a situation online that looks as if it’s becoming antagonistic, do not get overly defensive and do not disengage from the conversation abruptly: feel free to ask the Executive Director for advice and/or to disengage from the dialogue in a polite manner that reflects well on KANTARA.
8. If you want to write about competitive activities, make sure to be diplomatic, have the facts straight and that you have the appropriate permissions.
9. Never comment on anything related to contract negotiations, legal matters, litigation, or any parties KANTARA may be in litigation with.
10. Be smart about protecting yourself, your privacy, and KANTARA confidential information. What you publish is widely accessible and will be around for a long time, so consider the content carefully. Search engines have a long memory.

NOTE: General Kantara organizational mainstream media inquiries must be referred to the STAFF.