​​Social Media Terms of Use​

Updated: July 2026

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This policy governs public comments and interactions on official City of Phoenix social media pages and accounts operated and controlled by the City. It applies only to public user content and interactions on those pages, including comments, replies, reactions, and direct messages. It does not govern employee use of social media in a personal capacity. This policy replaces and narrows broader social media terms by focusing on how the City moderates public comments and interactions on city-operated accounts only.

The City of Phoenix uses social media to share information and invite public input on city services and initiatives. When the City enables public comments, it creates a limited public forum. Within that forum, the City will apply this policy in a view-point neutral manner and will not remove or restrict content based on agreement or disagreement with the speaker’s viewpoint. Criticism of the City, its officers, or its policies is permitted.

DEFINITIONS

• Social Media - “Social media” refers to digital content we create and share on online platforms that allow public interaction, such as sharing, commenting, and engaging. Examples of platforms we may use include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Nextdoor, Reddit, Threads, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
• Comments - “Comments” include any form of digital content, such as text, images, videos, links, or other media posted in response to or in interaction with our official social media accounts.
• User - A “User” is any member of the public who views, follows, or interacts with our social media content or accounts.

USER CONDUCT

The City welcomes comments that are on-topic and contribute to civil dialogue. To maintain safe, lawful, and productive space consistent with a limited public forum, the City may hide or remove use content, or limit a user’s ability to comment, only when the content falls within one or more of the categories below. The City will enforce these categories in a viewpoint-neutral and objective manner.

Users are expected to engage respectfully and constructively. The City reserves the right to remove, hide, or block content that:

• Promotes violence or illegal activity
• Contains language threatening, harassing, or defaming any person, organization, or ethnic or religious group
• Contains obscene language or sexual content
• Contains hate speech or discriminatory remarks based on race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or other protected status
• Promotes commercial services or products
• Supports or opposes political candidates or ballot propositions
• Contains spam or links to other websites or applications (“apps”)
• Digresses from the topic being discussed
• Violates the legal ownership interest of another party, or infringes on copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property
• Contains personally identifiable information, including medical information
• Includes information that may compromise the safety, security, or proceedings of public systems or any criminal or civil investigations
• In addition, to the extent applicable, the City of Phoenix reserves the right to block/hide any user account that repeatedly posts comments that violate these terms of use or posts inappropriate or off-topic messages.

NOTE: Certain social media platforms utilize technology to automatically identify and remove links or comments in violation of their policies. The City of Phoenix does not control those settings.

PUBLIC RECORDS AND PRIVACY

All content posted on City of Phoenix social media accounts is subject to Arizona public records laws. This includes comments, messages, and any information shared by users. Users should be aware that their interactions may be archived and disclosed upon request. Users of City of Phoenix social media channels do not retain any rights over their postings. Postings are intended for public view and any personal information posted constitutes a waiver of any rights to privacy or confidentiality. The city’s ability to remove content from the public platform does not ensure deletion from public records.

MODERATION AND MONITORING

City staff monitor social media accounts during regular business hours and may remove content that violates this policy without prior notice. Repeated violations may result in users being permanently blocked or reported to the platform.

ENDORSEMENTS AND EXTERNAL LINKS

The City does not endorse any external organizations or content linked from its social media accounts. Links provided are for informational purposes only. The City is not responsible for the terms and conditions, privacy policy, or content of any such site(s) or any further links from such site(s). 

NOTE: If the City of Phoenix follows another user’s account, “likes” another page, retweets, “favorites,” shares, or otherwise re-posts or engages with another user’s content, such an action does not constitute an endorsement.

EMPLOYEES POSTING TO SOCIAL CHANNELS

City of Phoenix employees should reference Administrative Regulation (A.R) 2.38: Social Media and Networking. Except for official spokespeople or official City of Phoenix accounts, if a City employee wants to post comments to social media sites, they must do so on their own time and on their personal, non-city equipment. They should remember they are not speaking on behalf of the City, but as private citizens. Employees should always use a personal email address, not their City email address, when registering for any social network.

Employees may use personal social media accounts outside of work, but must not:

• Represent themselves as speaking for the City without authorization
• Disclose confidential or privileged information
• Use City logos, branding, or other official marks without approval

If you use social media to express a political position, make sure that you do so as a private citizen rather than as a City of Phoenix representative.

ACCESSIBILITY AND LANGUAGE ACCESS

The City is committed to providing accessible digital content. If you encounter a barrier on a City social media page, need content in an alternative format, or require language assistance, contact socialmedia.pio@phoenix.gov. The City will provide reasonable accommodations and alternative means of access upon request.

CHANGES TO TERMS

The City of Phoenix may update this policy at any time. Continued use of City social media accounts constitutes acceptance of any changes.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact the City of Phoenix Communications Office at socialmedia.pio@phoenix.gov.