Social Media Policy

When posting media content to social networking sites it is helpful to remember the reasons for doing so. When using the CPGCB’s social sites, the aims should be to:

• Promote the CPGCB mission
• Reach a wider, more diverse audience
• Endorse scientific research for professionals in the community
• Promote training opportunities and certification process
• Learn about the community and its needs

The following are guidelines for Employees and Board Members of the Canadian Problem Gambling Certification Board (CPGCB) who engage with social media platforms. These guidelines apply whether Employees and CPGCB Board Members are posting to their own sites or commenting on other sites:

1. Follow all applicable CPGCB Bylaws ensuring that no confidential or proprietary information is shared without prior consent of the Executive Committee.
2. Where your connection to CPGCB is apparent, ensure that you are speaking for yourself and not on behalf of CPGCB. In those circumstances, you should include this disclaimer: “The content contained here is solely my opinion and does not represent the views of the CPGCB”.
3. If you identify your affiliation to the CPGCB, your social media activities should be consistent with CPGCB’s high standards of professional conduct.
4. Protect your identity by not posting personal information such as your telephone number, address and birth date in social media forums.
5. Do not publish materials that are insulting, demeaning, or offensive to CPGCB, our members, or any industry partners, or that damages CPGCB in any way.
6. CPGCB will not tolerate discrimination (including age, sex, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, or marital status or any other legally recognized protected basis).
7. Social media posts will be reviewed and approved by the Executive, Marketing Sub Committee, or designate to ensure that the content is consistent with the intended purpose of use.
8. For employees of CPGCB, ensure that your social media activity does not interfere with your work commitments.
9. CPGCB discourages staff in management/supervisory roles from initiating “friend” requests with employees they manage. Managers/supervisors may accept friend requests if initiated by the employee, and if the manager/supervisor does not believe it will negatively impact the work relationship.
10. CPGCB does not endorse people, products, services and organizations. Official CPGCB accounts should not be used to provide such endorsements. For personal social media accounts where your connection to CPGCB is apparent, you should be careful to avoid implying that an endorsement of a person or product is on behalf of CPGCB, rather than a personal endorsement.
11. Unless approved by the CPGCB, your social media name, handle and URL should not include CPGCB’s name or logo.