Social Media Account Use Guidelines

December 20, 2017
General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department

These Use Guidelines set forth the purposes of operation of the social media accounts operated by the Meiji Gakuin University General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department (the “General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department”), the content of posts, matters of note, and other related matters. The management and operation of social media accounts shall comply with these “Social Media Account Use Guidelines.”

Purposes of Operation of Social Media Accounts

The purposes of operation are to broadly disseminate information on the activities of Meiji Gakuin University (the “University”) through social media and to raise the brand value of Meiji Gakuin University by increasing awareness of those activities.

Covered Social Media Accounts

Accounts managed and operated by the General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department are subject to these Use Guidelines:

  1. Twitter
    @MeijiGakuinUniv
    URL:https://twitter.com/meijigakuinuniv
  2. Facebook
    MeijiGakuinUniversity
    URL:https://www.facebook.com/MeijiGakuinUniversity/
  3. Instagram
    mguniv
    URL:https://www.instagram.com/mguniv/
  4. Youtube
    meijigakuin
    URL:https://www.youtube.com/user/meijigakuin/featured

Details and Confirmation of Information to be Disseminated

Information will be posted taking into account the attributes of each social medium. Posted information may be seen as statements made on behalf of the University, and therefore, postings shall be made appropriately by ensuring the transparency and accuracy of information and giving due consideration to users.

Compliance Matters Regarding the Use of Social Media

The General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department shall observe the Guidelines for the Use of Social Media (Faculty, Staff and Students, etc.) and comply with the following provisions when managing and operating social media accounts.

  1. Legal compliance
    The General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department shall comply with the laws of Japan, as well as the laws of other countries and international law depending on the circumstances.
  2. Observance of human rights and ethics
    The General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department shall not infringe on the human rights of others, commit any acts against public order and decency, or defame or make discriminatory statements or posts about specific individuals or groups.
  3. Protection of intellectual property
    In the event that information is transmitted, the General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department shall be careful in the handling of documents, images, music, logos, and software, etc. to thoroughly ensure that there has been no infringement of copyrights, design rights, image rights, or trademarks, etc.
  4. Protection of personal information
    The General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department shall be fully aware of being “unable to completely delete information once it has been transmitted,” which is one of the dangers of Social Media, and shall strive to protect personal information.
  5. Duty of confidentiality and protection of confidential information
    The General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department shall not post or publicly release confidential information or information that carries a duty of confidentiality.
  6. Transmission of correct information
    The General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department shall not transmit false information, and shall strive to transmit information that is based on fact. Furthermore, if it is learned that transmitted information contains an incorrectness, an apology shall be issued as necessary and the information shall be promptly corrected.

Operational Rules

  1. Actions regarding other accounts
    (i) In principle, other accounts will not be followed.
    (ii) Information posted on other accounts (limited to accounts operated by University departments or approved organizations) may be “Liked” in some instances (Instagram only).
    (iii) Information posted on other accounts (excluding the individual accounts of students, faculty, staff and others) may be re-tweeted or shared if the information is related to University activities and there are no issues from the perspective of public policy (Twitter and Facebook only).
  2. Actions from other accounts
    (i) In principle, information shall not be intentionally deleted or blocked. However, comments, replies, messages, and so on that are determined to fall under any of the following may be deleted from each account page without warning to the poster: • Posts that violate laws and regulations;
    • Posts that are contrary to public policy;
    • Posts that defame or harm the honor or reputation of third parties and posts that cause harm or disadvantage to third parties;
    • Posts that violate the privacy or rights to likeness of third parties or infringe on copyrights of other intellectual property rights;
    • Posts that have political, or business objectives;
    • Posts that contain false information or are contrary to fact; and
    • Posts that are otherwise determined to be operationally inappropriate.
    (ii) In principle, responses shall not be made to comments, but in cases of appropriate questions or in the event of an emergency, replies may be posted.
    (iii) In principle, information shall not be posted from the University’s accounts to other accounts using direct message or messenger functions.
    (iv) Information may not be reproduced or reposted, except when using the official functions of each social medium (Like, Share, and Retweet).

Security and Risk Management

  1. Proper management of IDs and passwords
    When logging in to official social media accounts, IDs and passwords shall be appropriately managed, including periodically changing passwords as necessary to prevent leaks to faculty and staff, other than those who work in the General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Department, and to third parties.
  2. Countermeasures against impersonation
    If an impersonating account is discovered that could give rise to the misunderstanding that a third party is disseminating official information from the University, notice shall promptly be provided to the relevant account manager, or company that manages the relevant social medium, and a request shall be made for deletion. To minimize the harm caused by such impersonating accounts, warnings shall be posted on official websites and social media.
  3. Responses to problems
    In cases where unauthorized access to social media accounts, leaks of personal information, posting of crime-related information, flaming, or other problems are discovered, contact shall be made with the relevant University departments, the police, or other external organizations as necessary to address the situation.

Operation and Alteration of These Use Guidelines

The General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Division is responsible for the operation and alteration of these Use Guidelines. The content of these Use Guidelines may be changed as appropriate for the future state of Meiji Gakuin Social Media.

Inquiries concerning these Use Guidelines
General Planning and Development Office, Public Relations Division: 03-5421-5165