READ AND SIGN: Lincoln County School District Social Media Guidelines and Expectations for Activities & Athletics School Year 2021-22
Playing, competing, and being involved in athletics and co-curricular activities for your school is a
privilege. Students representing their high school and Lincoln County School District are held in the
highest regard and are seen as role models in the community. As leaders, you have the responsibility to
portray your team, your school, and yourselves in a positive manner at all times. Sometimes this means
doing things that are an inconvenience to you but benefit the whole team.

Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites have increased in popularity globally and are used by a
majority of students here in the Lincoln County School District in one form or another.

Students should be aware that third parties – including media, faculty, and future employers – could
easily access your profiles and view all personal information. This includes all pictures, videos,
comments, and posts. Inappropriate material found by third parties affects the perception of the student,
your coach/advisor, your school, and the District. This can also be detrimental to a student’s future
employment options, whether in professional or other industries.

Examples of inappropriate and offensive behaviors concerning participation in online communities may
include depictions or presentation of the following:

 Photos, videos, comments, or posts showing the personal use of alcohol, drugs, and/or
tobacco. For example: holding keg cups, beer cans, shot glasses, cigarettes....Don’t do it!
 Photos, videos, and comments of a sexual nature. This includes links to websites of a
pornographic nature and other inappropriate material.
 Pictures, videos, comments, or posts that condone drug-related activity. This includes but is
not limited to images that portray the personal use of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
 Content online that is unsportsmanlike, derogatory, demeaning or threatening toward any
other individual or entity (Examples: derogatory comments regarding another institution,
taunting comments aimed at a student-athlete, coach or team at another institution and
derogatory comments against race and/or gender.) No posts should depict or encourage
unacceptable, violent, or illegal activities such as hazing, sexual harassment/assault,
gambling, discrimination, fighting, vandalism, academic dishonesty, underage drinking, and
illegal drug use.

The following guidelines outline the expectation of every student in regards to social media:

 Understand and follow the rules of each particular social media site.
 Do not post information, photos, or other representations of sexual content or harassing
language. For example hazing, sexual harassment/assault, gambling, discrimination, fighting,
vandalism, academic dishonesty, underage drinking and illegal drug use.
 The social media policy set by Lincoln County School District works in conjunction with the
policies described in the Student Handbook and Lincoln County School District Policy.

In an effort to guide social media practices, LCSD suggests the following:

 Understand that freedom of speech is not unlimited. Social media websites are not a place
where you can say and do whatever you want without repercussions.
 Think twice before posting. If you would not want your parents, grandparents, family, coaches
or boss to see your post – then DO NOT post it!
 Remember the internet is permanent. Even if you delete something on the internet, it still
exists out there somewhere.
 Remember many different audiences will see your posts, including fans, alumni, children,
other student-athletes/participants, parents, staff, faculty, etc.
 Be honest, respectful, and positive.
 Be professional and polite.
 Be accurate. If you make a mistake, own up to it and correct it quickly.
 Avoid topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory.
 Do not post anything you would not speak about openly in a workplace or public, such as
comments on drug use, sexual humor, and skin color or ethnic slurs.
 Be in a proper state of mind when you make a post. Do not post when your judgment is
impaired in any way.
 Remember coaches/advisors and administrators monitor social media websites.
 Remember potential employers use social media websites to screen candidates. Your career
path can be directly impacted by your actions on social media websites.
 Protect yourself by maintaining a self-image that you can be proud of years from now.
 Use the privacy/security settings made available on social media sites.
For your own safety, please keep the following recommendations in mind as you participate in
social media websites:
 Set your security settings so that only your friends can view your profile.
 You should not post your email, home address, local address, telephone number(s), or other
personal information as it could lead to unwanted attention, stalking, identity theft, etc.
 Be aware of who you add as a friend to your site. Many people are looking to take advantage
of students and student-athletes or to seek a connection with them.
 Consider how the above behaviors can be reflected to all media applications.
If you are ever in doubt about the appropriateness of your online public material, consider whether it
upholds and positively reflects your own values and ethics, as well as those of your high school.
Remember, always present a positive image, and do not do anything to embarrass yourself, your team,
your family, or your school.

Keep this document as a reference and reminder. The signature page you received with this
document will be retained on file at your school.