EPA uses social media applications and platforms to share official information with a wide audience on web-based networks that people trust. Social media is an effective
way for the agency to reach people and fulfill its mission to educate and inform the public about protecting human health and the environment.
When creating content for social media, employees must follow the procedures and policies for creating content for the web, which are listed below. The procedures and policies referenced below include guidance on providing hyperlinks to external web pages, complying with Section 508, the proper use of the EPA logo and seal, and how to employ “plain language.”
Only EPA employees and EPA contractors (under the direct supervision of EPA employees) are permitted to post to agency social media accounts. Student interns, fellows, and SEE enrollees are not authorized to post to agency social media accounts.
The policy below establishes the principles for the use of social media at EPA. The related procedures establish the required steps:
- for using social media intended for internal use only at EPA,
- for using social media intended for external use to communicate with the public, and
- that must be considered when representing EPA online in an employee’s official capacity while using social media.