Official Communication Using Social Media
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
(Office of Origin: GPA/DIG/CNS )
10 FAM 351 SOCIAL MEDIA INTRODUCTION
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
Social media is a key element of public diplomacy. Department public communications must advance the President, Secretary, and Administration's goals and messaging. Department social media accounts should have a clear communications purpose and be used to reach target audience segments and achieve specific outcomes. Not every Department function requires a social media presence. The Department is responsible for ensuring official social media accounts are actively used to deliver an appreciable return on investment.
10 FAM 351.1 Official Use of Social Media
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Department personnel must obtain and document all required approvals prior to creating a social media account used for official Department business (not personal use). These accounts must be approved by the Department following the requirements in 10 FAM 351.3. Official Department social media accounts must follow federal rules and regulations guiding their use by federal agencies and associated personnel.
b. Employees must adhere to the public information dissemination clearance requirements found in 3 FAM 4170 and 10 FAM 320.
c. Supervisors may not compel personnel either to create a personal account or personal profile on any social media platform or to post personal entries on any platform. Personnel enrolled in training programs that utilize social networking programs may be required to create a personal account or personal profile for the duration of the training for the purpose of instruction. Personnel may retain or delete the account or profile at their sole discretion upon the end of the training program.
10 FAM 351.2 Authorities
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
The authorities for these policies are as follows:
(1) 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1194, Information and Communication Technology Standards and Guidelines; (36 CFR 1194)
(2) Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), Public Law 113-283;
(3) 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act ("21st Century IDEA"), Public Law 115-336 (2018);
(4) Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, Managing Information as a Strategic Resource;
(5) OMB Memorandum M-15-14, Management and Oversight of Federal Information Technology;
(7) OMB Memorandum M-22-09, Federal Zero Trust Strategy;
(8) OMB Memorandum M-23-22, Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience;
(9) OMB Memorandum M-24-04, Guidance on Federal Information Security and Privacy Management Requirements; and
(10) Copyright Act of 1976, Public Law 94-553.
10 FAM 351.3 Creating Official Social Media Accounts
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Official Department social media accounts and content must be clearly labeled and identifiable as official Department communications. Naming conventions may vary depending on an account's documented purpose. Department role-based ("persona") account handles and usernames should reflect the official position or title, rather than the name of the individual serving in that role, consistent with 10 FAM 352. All Department social media accounts must also comply with Department branding guidance in 10 FAM 410 and on brand.america.gov. Please see the Social Media Hub for platform-specific guidance.
b. All official social media accounts must be approved by submitting a social media strategy to the Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA). Social media strategies are living documents, reviewed and updated on an annual basis for existing accounts, and applied as you consider the launch of new accounts. New account strategies should follow GPA's standard strategy template found on the Social Media Hub and include details on content clearance processes. All official social media must represent Department entities (bureaus, offices, missions), principals, and/or programs. Accounts will not be approved without appropriate clearance:
(1) Domestic social media accounts: Strategies for new official domestic social media accounts must have management approval at the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) level or above.
(2) Overseas social media accounts: At post, strategies for new official accounts must be approved by the Mission front office, Public Affairs Officer (PAO), and the regional bureau public diplomacy office. New accounts for consulates should be approved by both the consulate and embassy front offices and PAOs. Creation of new accounts may also be subject to specific requirements within the bureau.
c. The creation of an official account on a social media platform necessarily involves accepting the platform's Terms of Service. See 10 FAM 356 for guidance.
d. All Department social media accounts used for official public communications must be registered by emailing socialmedia@state.gov to be included in the list of all Department accounts (state.gov/social). Accounts that have followed the official approval processes will be verified as applicable per each platform's respective process.
e. Chiefs of Mission (COMs) overseas have the authority to approve or disapprove another U.S. Government agency's use of social media at post, with consultation provided by the PAO. Close coordination among U.S. Government agencies represented at post is strongly recommended to ensure consistent and unified public messaging by the mission to support U.S. foreign policy goals. Missions should strive to speak with one voice and, where possible, identify opportunities to consolidate accounts managed independently by implementing partners in support of Department programs and initiatives.
10 FAM 352 OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION USING SOCIAL MEDIA
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Senior officials and other employees whose positions make it appropriate for them to engage in official communications on behalf of the Department over social media ("Department social media spokespersons") must not use personal social media accounts to do so. They must use official social media accounts, created and owned by the Department. This includes all Chiefs of Mission and capstone employees.
(1) To engage on social media in an official capacity, personnel must use an account created specifically for official use separate from a private account for personal use. When Department social media spokespersons begin their positions, they should be provided access to official social media accounts, and they should be removed from access to those accounts when they leave that position. Whenever possible, the same account is passed from one incumbent in a position to the next. As such, account names include only the office or position (e.g., @USAmbManila); they do not include personal names.
(2) Missions, bureaus, or offices must maintain a list of their authorized official social media accounts and the credentials for those accounts.
(3) Department social media spokespersons must be instructed before they begin their positions that they will not be able to use their personal social media accounts for official communications, and that content on personal social media accounts must comply with 3 FAM 4176. Forwarding, linking to, or otherwise reposting official content on a personal social media account will not ordinarily constitute official communications if the content was first released on an official platform, provided that it is clear from the circumstances that the personal social media account is not being used to communicate on behalf of the Department. Personnel using personal social media accounts must be careful to avoid standalone commentary or added commentary that would be viewed as an official communication and must avoid reposting official content in such a routine fashion that the personal account is a draw as an alternative source or location for official U.S. Government communications or views. For additional guidance on personal and official use, please see the Personal and Official Use Social Media Handbook located on the Social Media Hub.
b. In order to put a "human face" on the Department's social media presence, Department social media spokespersons are authorized, but not required, to post certain kinds of personal content to their official accounts (e.g., posts about family news, pictures of pets, discussions of hobbies). This personal content may be considered official communications and must comply with restrictions on, among other things, partisan political activity, endorsement of commercial goods or services, fundraising and solicitation, official action affecting financial interests, and the publication of information that could compromise the security of the individual or others. See 3 FAM 4175.2, Content of Official Capacity Public Communications, for additional guidance on content of official communications.
c. The Social Media Accounts Working Group (SMAWG), chaired by the R/PPR Director, focuses on personal social media accounts that may erroneously appear to the public to be official sources of Department information. The SMAWG reviews questions regarding the Department's policies on use of personal and official social media accounts (10 FAM 350); establishes an enforcement chain to remedy inappropriate use of social media accounts by senior Department officials; and makes recommendations regarding Department retention of social media accounts that have been utilized for official capacity communications. Please see 3 FAM 4170 for additional policies on personal capacity public communications.
d. All accounts that have been used for official communications are considered Department accounts and are either retained by the Department for use by the next incumbent or retired in accordance with applicable records disposition schedules, as appropriate. The content of such accounts is also retired in accordance with applicable records disposition schedules.
10 FAM 353 Social Media Management
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. All official social media accounts require ongoing oversight to ensure proper management. In addition, accounts require sufficient maintenance and commitment of resources. Department personnel should be aware of these commitments before requesting supervisory approval.
b. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring social media accounts under their purview are aligned with the Department's Social Media Standards and actively used to deliver an appreciable return on investment that advances organizational strategic goals.
c. Responsibilities for social media management should be included in position descriptions and staff work requirements, as appropriate.
d. Social media accounts that no longer advance the strategic goals of the Department and/or fail to meet performance objectives should be retired from use. Any social media account eligible to be retired must follow Department procedure for retiring social media accounts and their content.
10 FAM 353.1 Official Content Management
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Content posted to official social media accounts by Department personnel acting in their official capacities must be relevant and accurate. When proposed content implicates the responsibilities, policies, programs, or other equities of another Department bureau, office, or post, content contributors should coordinate with the appropriate Department organization before publication, as necessary. Department personnel are responsible for the content they publish in their official capacity. When Department personnel publish content on official social media accounts in their official capacity, the content must:
(1) Align with Administration goals. Front office clearance is critical for alignment and speaking with one voice. Missions, bureaus, and/or offices should communicate with their respective front offices regarding original posted content, reposts, and follows. Missions, bureaus and/or offices should outline in writing front office content expectations and categories of content that may or may not require front office clearance; For example, blanket approval may be granted to repost all Department flagship content and White House content.
(2) Respect document clearance chains;
(3) Adhere to the content and security policies in 3 FAM 4175.2, 5 FAM 776.3 and 5 FAM 777. Sensitive But Unclassified content, as defined by 12 FAM 540, is not authorized for release to the public;
(4) Not promote a personal business or a personal point of view out of step with official policy;
(5) Clearly indicate through tone and substance that the post is official content from the Department. The public should not be confused or question whether it is a personal or official post. See the Social Media Handbook in the Social Media Hub for examples;
(6) Adhere to host country laws except where such adherence is contrary to U.S. Government policy. Department personnel are responsible for knowing and abiding by their host country laws, as directed by local management;
(7) Adhere to all government ethics rules and best practices and rules on scientific integrity when publishing or communicating scientific information. See 11 FAM 820 for additional information;
(8) Not include information about internal Department operations and procedures on public social media. If Department personnel receive questions about acquisition actions or the Department's financial dealings on official social media, they should contact or direct the inquiry to the Bureau of Global Acquisitions or the Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA);
(9) Use copyrighted materials in accordance with copyright laws, which typically require permission/rights from the copyright owner. Refer to 5 FAM 490, Use of Copyrighted Material. Original material prepared by a Department employee as part of that employee's official duties is not subject to U.S. copyright and is, for copyright purposes, in the public domain. Copyright insignia (e.g., "©") should only appear when using content that is subject to copyright.
b. Other standards for content include:
(1) No advertising, solicitation, or promotion of private parties, products, or services.
(2) Dissemination on official social media of content produced pursuant to provisions of the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, as amended (the Smith-Mundt Act) must aim to reach foreign audiences abroad.
(3) Section 508 (Accessibility) Compliance: Ensure content is Section 508 compliant, such as by manually adding alternative text on images and providing captions on videos as possible.
(4) Employees may in certain circumstances post appropriate third-party content or links on official social media accounts, provided they confirm it complies with the content-related requirements above and as follows:
(i) There must be a legitimate foreign policy purpose for the post;
(ii) Third-party content or links may be posted for informational purposes only and in a way that does not imply endorsement of their source;
(iii) Third-party content or links may not be posted in a manner that is biased or unduly preferential to any particular sources or publications.
c. Questions regarding posting of external content or links on official social media should be directed to GPA, which will consult with L as appropriate.
10 FAM 353.2 Social Media Advertising
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Management officers may authorize expenditures (using a government credit card or otherwise) for "social media advertising," i.e., paid promotions of official social media content or accounts.
b. All federal and Department ethics rules apply to social media advertising, including regulations governing endorsements (5 CFR 2635.702) and fundraising (5 CFR 950), as well as Hatch Act limitations on political activities.
c. See 10 FAH for additional guidance on social media advertising.
10 FAM 353.3 Records Management
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Social media sponsors are responsible for the identification of record material and the proper archiving of that material in accordance with approved records disposition schedules. Generally, there are two types of record material associated with social media sites:
(1) Content records including comments, posts, videos, and other social media communications; and
(2) Account management and operations records including design, policy and procedures, and other management records.
b. Social media records must be copied or otherwise archived with related records, unless the platform has a record management application that can manage the records throughout its lifecycle. Non-record content consisting of duplicate information which is maintained in other department recordkeeping systems (original recordkeeping copy is maintained in accordance with its records disposition schedule) and transitory records do not need to be archived and may be deleted when no longer needed.
c. When social media record materials have been appropriately archived, they may be removed from public view.
d. Contact the Records and Archives Management staff to develop a records disposition schedule.
10 FAM 354 Impersonations on Social Media
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Impersonations, or the creation of an account that is intended to be mistaken for another account, are not permitted on most major U.S.-based social media platforms. GPA is responsible for coordinating with social media platforms to assist Department personnel in addressing situations where third-party accounts are impersonating official Department accounts. Impersonation accounts are not the same as parody accounts. Parody accounts pretend to be another account but for humor or satire, are generally constitutionally-protected speech, and are permitted under many platforms' Terms of Service. For transparency, many platforms require parody accounts to label themselves as such in their profile, however even unlabeled parody accounts do not constitute "impersonation" for purposes of this subchapter so long as the parodic purpose is reasonably discernable.
b. Report accounts impersonating Department offices, missions, or officials (in their official capacity) by emailing socialmedia@state.gov with a link to the account and relevant details for documentation so that the ticket may be elevated accordingly. Review relevant guidance on impersonations in the Social Media Hub.
c. Department personnel must not interact with or acknowledge impersonators to avoid encouraging further activity. Content related to impersonators should be preserved for potential platform and/or law enforcement action.
10 FAM 355 ENGAGEMENT WITH ONLINE pLATFORMs ON USER CONTENT
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Department employees and contractors (collectively, "personnel") generally may not engage online platforms on behalf of the Department regarding any platform-hosted user content or accounts for any purpose, including for the purpose of seeking voluntary platform removal or reinstatement of such content or accounts. Any Department engagement with a social media platform for the purpose of seeking platform removal or retention of content on third-party user accounts hosted by the platform must be channeled through GPA or Diplomatic Security (DS) (or a Regional Security Officer (RSO)), as appropriate. Department personnel must adhere to relevant Department policies and processes when seeking such engagements and may not directly reach out to platforms without following such policies and processes. Contact GPA for further information.
b. Department personnel carrying out any authorized engagement with a platform regarding user content or accounts should take care to ensure that their communications cannot be reasonably construed as seeking the removal, suppression, demonetization, deamplification, or throttling of content protected under the First Amendment.
c. This policy neither modifies nor supersedes any existing policies for addressing/handling criminal investigations, protective intelligence, or unauthorized third-party use online of Department material, the Department seal, or other Department insignia, that may separately permit Department engagement with online platforms regarding third-party user content or accounts.
10 FAM 356 Terms of SERVICE and Terms of use
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. "Terms of Service" (TOS), in the realm of online engagement, refers generally to an agreement that the provider (e.g., a company) of a service (e.g., a social media platform) requires a party to accept in order to use its service (e.g., the platform). With respect to the Department's official use of social media, a platform's "Terms of Service" defines the contractual relationship between the platform and the Department as a user of the platform. Because opening an account on (or otherwise using) a platform generally involves accepting the platform's TOS, opening an official Department account on a platform (or otherwise using the platform for official purposes) can bind the Department to the platform's TOS. Because certain TOS terms may present issues for U.S. Government agencies, a platform's TOS must be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser (L) and amended as needed before the Department moves to initiate an official presence on that platform. Relatedly, any subsequent acceptance of the platform's TOS on behalf of the Department must be carried out by a direct-hire Department of State employee in an official capacity. Consult with GPA (socialmedia@state.gov) and L/PD if exploring a new platform on which the Department may not already maintain an official presence and may not have yet reviewed the TOS.
b. "Terms of Use" (TOU) is a very similar concept, but one the Department uses to refer to an agreement between the Department, as the owner/holder of official Department accounts on a platform, and non-Department social media users accessing official Department accounts. Because members of the public often use official social media accounts to obtain information from or engage (e.g., by posting comments or messaging) with the Department, official accounts must include a link to the Department's standard Terms of Use (http://state.gov/tou), which define each official Department account as a "limited public forum" for engagement between the Department and the public, and sets forth policies and other terms applicable to non-Department parties accessing official Department accounts. If you require a translation of the TOU in a language not offered on state.gov/tou, refer to instructions on the Social Media Hub. Department social media managers must include a link to the Department's TOU on an official account before making that account available to the public.
c. Department personnel may remove content users post to an official Department account (to the extent possible under the features of the platform) that violates the Department's TOU. Department personnel must follow relevant moderation guidance in the Social Media Hub and keep a log of any content removed in accordance with records management policy and guidance.
10 FAM 357 Protecting Department Social Media Accounts
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. An organization's social media accounts, if compromised, can be used to spread inaccurate or sensitive information to a wide audience. The trusted nature of verified social media accounts—including those of large organizations or public figures—increases the likelihood that incorrect stories posted by these accounts will be initially viewed as true. A compromised social media account can damage an organization's reputation, disrupt operations, and impose financial costs. Furthermore, recovering access to organization accounts is not guaranteed and can take a significant amount of time.
b. The following are required practices when managing official Department social media accounts:
(1) Multi-Factor Authentication: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) must be used to secure all official social media accounts (e.g., X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) using app-based authentication. When MFA is enabled for an account, the user is required to enter additional information besides a password when logging in (e.g., a single-use numeric code). Organizations should avoid using text and email-based MFA methods when more robust forms are available.
(2) Email Security: Posts and bureaus must use a ".gov" email address as the primary email account for managing an official Department social media account. If (and only if) the social media platform requires use of personal social media or email accounts for authentication purposes, may Department personnel use personal accounts to manage official social media accounts. The same security precautions, including password requirements and two-factor authentication, must be used for any non-".gov" email address used to manage an official social media account. The Department does not require personnel to use personal accounts for authentication purposes, even when a platform may do so.
(3) Secure Passwords: Using unique, strong passwords or passphrases is essential to protecting official Department accounts. Passwords and passphrases must be unique to each account and sufficiently long and difficult to guess. Personnel may use either complex passwords containing a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, or longer passphrases composed of multiple unrelated words, consistent with applicable Department and platform security requirements. Passwords and passphrases should not be based on readily identifiable or predictable information, such as personal names, birthdays, or commonly used phrases. Department personnel must change a password or passphrase whenever there is an indication that the associated account may have been compromised and when an account user no longer requires access, as appropriate. Department passwords and passphrases must not be stored in unapproved commercial password managers or other unapproved applications. Credentials may be stored only in Department-approved password or credential-management applications, including for service accounts and devices, as authorized. (4) Credential Harvesting: To protect against credential harvesting, always verify the legitimacy of the sender when a message asks you to open a link or attachment. If you receive notice of suspicious activity on a social media platform, manually navigate to the account settings on that platform instead of clicking the link provided in the notice.
(5) Limit access: Posts and bureaus must limit administrative access to official social media accounts to the minimum number of Department personnel necessary to manage the accounts effectively, while maintaining sufficient backup access to ensure continuity during staffing changes or other transitions. Each official social media account or page must have at least one direct-hire Department employee with administrator access. Third-party contractors must not be the sole personnel with administrator access to an account. When practicable, a member of the relevant regional bureau and/or GPA should also maintain administrator access to a mission's social media accounts to provide continuity and backup access from Washington. Posts and bureaus should review account access at least semi-annually and promptly remove access for personnel who leave the Department, transfer to another duty station, or otherwise no longer require access.
(6) Use Hootsuite Enterprise: Every official social media account (including but not limited to X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn) must be integrated into and accessible via the Hootsuite Enterprise social media management tool when possible. Guidance on how to authenticate official media accounts in Hootsuite Enterprise is available on the Social Media Hub.
(7) Account Audits: Posts and bureaus should conduct quarterly audits of all social media accounts under their purview to confirm that login credentials, including passwords and MFA, are appropriately maintained; required access and account information are current; and accounts comply with these requirements and applicable guidance on the Social Media Hub. These quarterly audits are broader than the semi-annual access review described above, which focuses specifically on confirming authorized users and removing access that is no longer required. Teams that do not maintain accurate records of account credentials and access may be unable to recover access to an account. Accounts that are no longer in use should be archived and closed in accordance with Department guidance.
c. If you suspect any type of malicious activity concerning official Department social media accounts, contact the Cyber Incident Response Team at CIRT@state.gov and the local Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO).
d. Refer questions to GPA (socialmedia@state.gov) and the DS Directorate of Cyber and Technology Security (DS/CTS; AskCTS@state.gov).
10 FAM 358 Social Media Crisis Communications
(CT:PEC-98; 09-02-2026)
a. Social media platforms remain valuable tools for missions to disseminate important messages to a wide audience, especially during a crisis.
b. Missions and bureaus that engage with the public via social media, domestically or internationally, in the regular course of business should continue to do so during a crisis. Missions must establish procedures to ensure that they are able to communicate accurate, timely and official information via social media in the event of an emergency.
c. Social media must always be employed as an official communication channel in a crisis given its ability to reach a wide audience, along with the U.S. public's expectation for two-way communication with their government. As outlined in 10 FAM 330, posts are required to have a crisis communications plan. Posts' crisis communications plans must detail how social media will be utilized to disseminate timely and accurate official information during an emergency. Crisis communications plans must be updated on an annual basis.
d. The intense demands of a crisis require flexibility, both to effectively respond and to prevent burnout. Cross-training, pre-established release authority and personnel tasking, and a strong crisis communications plan are essential in ensuring additional staff can step in to support a regular cadence of public communication during a crisis.
e. Consult 10 FAM 330 for additional guidance on Department communications and messaging during a crisis, including information on available crisis communications training and how to request it.