Charities have been urged to respond to the regulator’s consultation on its draft social media guidance, which closes this evening.
The Charity Commission said it has received “several hundred responses” so far to the consultation, which drew concerns when it opened in January over the guidance’s warnings over charity staff’s personal social media accounts.
Its said that social media posts by volunteers or employees could be seen as reflecting the views of a charity itself and urged trustees to set rules and plan responses to negative attention the organisation may receive.
Some in the sector have renewed their concerns over this part of the guidance in recent days following the BBC’s initial decision to suspend Gary Lineker from presenting Match of the Day due to his social media activity.
Rosamund McCarthy Etherington, partner at Stone King, wrote in a blog that the BBC’s suspension of Lineker, which was revoked yesterday, “indicates the perils of an institution seeking to regulate personal views on legitimate topics and restrict free speech”.
Commission told to ‘go back to drawing board’ on personal accounts
Etherington told Civil Society News that the Commission should extend its consultation beyond today’s 5pm deadline to allow further responses following the Lineker matter.
“The crisis for the BBC is an opportunity for the Charity Commission to rethink its approach and go back to the drawing board in respect of personal accounts,” she said.
“I would suggest that the Commission perhaps extends the consultation period to include any further representations.
“Alternatively, rather than publishing a final version, it should share a draft of the next version with relevant sector bodies and sample trustees for their comments.
“This has to be an iterative process that takes into account the latest developments. It would be a mistake for the Commission to go straight to final guidance without further consultation and discussions.”
CharityComms trustee Kirsty Marrins also posted on social media that the Lineker episode had provoked further reflections on the Commission’s draft guidance.
This Gary Lineker/BBC story is getting me thinking even more about the section in the Charity Commission’s draft social media guidance for charities, which suggests trustees need oversight of staff personal accounts and how that might limit the right to free speech…
— Kirsty Marrins (she/her) (@LondonKirsty) March 10, 2023
Hundreds respond to consultation
The Commission said its guidance was not intended to prevent personal use of social media but it did advise trustees to consider setting out what their rules are and how they would respond if such activity brought negative attention to the charity.
A spokesperson told Civil Society News that the regulator had received “several hundred responses” to its consultation and urged others to respond by 5pm today.
“Our consultation on draft social media guidance is rightly prompting those working in the sector and beyond to explore and respond to our proposals,” they said.
“While our guidance intends to raise awareness of the opportunities and risks associated with social media use, and to help trustees to manage these, the current draft makes clear that that those employed by, or working with, charities are free to use social media in their own right.
“The consultation closes at 5pm on Tuesday 14 March, and we encourage anyone who has not shared their views to do so before the deadline.”
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