Scope and Adoption 

These comment guidelines pertain to the main social media accounts for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign managed by Strategic Communications and Marketing and Verified Illinois social media accounts, a list maintained by Strategic Communications and Marketing. 

As part of the verification process, all Verified Illinois social media accounts must use published comment guidelines for their platforms. Verified Illinois accounts are encouraged to adopt and follow the below University Social Media Comment Guidelines for their accounts.

When a unit wishes to use a modified version of the University Social Media Comment Guidelines on their social media platforms, the unit must publish their comment guidelines in a publicly accessible place. As comments on university social media accounts raise a number of issues, including free speech, harassment and copyright, it is recommended that any comment guidelines that differ significantly from the university social media comment guidelines be reviewed by appropriate university offices including, but not limited to, StratCom and the Office of University Counsel. It is further recommended that Verified Illinois social media accounts consult with StratCom and the Office of University Counsel before taking action to remove comments.

Comment Procedures

Comments, links, photos and videos are welcome on all University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign social media platforms. Comments or posts to University accounts can be removed for any of the following reasons, at any time and without notice, if they:

• are obscene, threatening or harassing, as legally defined, or otherwise are not protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; 
• disclose information that is private or confidential by law or regulation; 
• promote or advocate illegal activity; 
• violate copyrights or trademarks; 
• violate applicable state or federal laws and regulations or University policies;
• are commercial advertising, unsolicited self-promotion, SPAM, or solicitations; or 
• endorse or oppose anyone campaigning for election to a political office.

User comments or user posts do not represent the opinions of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The University and units adopting these guidelines reserve the right to respond to comments that do not violate the guidelines. The University also reserves the right to refer social media comments and activity to the applicable social media platform and/or authorities for appropriate action.

All users, including page administrators, are subject to the terms of service of each social media site and these guidelines.

If you have concerns or questions, contact socialmedia@illinois.edu.