Social Media Use Guidelines
Social Media Use Guidelines
Purpose
The purpose of these guidelines is to encourage the responsible and safe use of Social Media by Cricket Participants. Providing guiding principles to support and protect the interests and reputation of Cricket Organisations.
These guidelines help Cricket Participants understand the parameters for use of personal Social Media accounts and the responsibilities of Cricket Participants when using the Social Media accounts of Cricket Organisations.
These guidelines do not apply to Cricket Participants using Social Media for personal expression or other online activities in their personal life, independent of their relationship to the Cricket Organisation.
Australian Cricket Commitment to Online Safety
Cricket Australia has signed the Online Safety Statement of Commitment alongside 23 other major sporting organisations from around Australia, to actively support the work of the Commonwealth Government eSafety Commissioner to help keep all Australians safe online.
Scope
The Community Cricket Social Media Guidelines apply to Cricket Participants who are members of a Cricket Organisation which has endorsed and agreed to be bound by the Cricket Participant Social Media Use Policy. These Guidelines operate alongside relevant Integrity Codes and Policies.
What is Social Media?
Social Media means any online media (including websites and applications whether on any electronic device, desktop computer, tablet or mobile device) that allows Cricket Participants to create, share, broadcast or exchange information, ideas, and pictures/videos in virtual communities and networks.
Commonly used Social Media platforms in Australia include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube and many others.
Responsible use of Social Media
Just like behaviour on the pitch, Social Media posts and interactions must reflect the Spirit of Cricket and values of your club.
When using Social Media, Cricket Participants should consider the following:
- Would I want my family, friends, team or coach to see this post?
- Am I revealing any confidential or sensitive information?
- Could my post damage the reputation of my Club, Association or Australian Cricket?
- Is my post disrespectful, unkind or harmful to others?
- Could my post be viewed as discriminatory, defamatory or in breach of any Integrity policies or Federal, State or Territory legislation?
Expected conduct on Social Media
When using Social Media as a representative of a Cricket Organisation or in relation to your participation in cricket it is expected that you:
Show Respect
As a general guide, if a comment is not appropriate within the workplace, then it is also not appropriate on Social Media.
Posting material, statement, comment or views that is or considered to be offensive, obscene, defamatory, harassment, bullying, discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic, infringes copyright, or is unlawful is prohibited conduct.
If Social Media content is posted by someone else that may be considered prohibited conduct, it is recommended that you do not ‘like’ or become involved in that post in any way.
Maintain Privacy, Confidentiality & Copyright
Be mindful of who you share confidential or private information with and how it is shared within to ensure that it is not inadvertently made public.
For example, when using a closed Facebook ‘Group’, posts are accessible by all group members and images or posts can be “screenshot” and shared externally without knowledge.
If you publish photos or videos on Social Media that have children, you must have parental consent.
Do not share confidential personal information or intellectual property obtained via your role in a Cricket Organisation or its Stakeholders online.
For example, information that you can view or access in PlayHQ that is not publicly available should not be downloaded and stored on your personal device and/or shared with others.
You should never share your personal ID or logon details or use the ID or logon details of another person (without express permission) or otherwise impersonate any other person.
Consider Online Reputation
When posting online consider the digital footprint and ensure that your online presence and reputation reflects the personal image you want to display.
As a Cricket Participant if a post, comment, statement or view is made and determined by the relevant Cricket Organisation to be unacceptable, you may be asked to remove the post, comment, statement or view prior to returning to Cricket. Further action may be taken by the Cricket Organisation against the Cricket Participant in accordance with relevant policies or codes.
Being targeted by poor conduct on Social Media
Cricket Participants and clubs may be targeted by poor behaviour online, as a result of being involved in our sport.
This can be by other members, or unknown sources.
It could include comments, posts and messages that are offensive, obscene, defamatory, harassment, bullying, discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic, image-based abuse, or unlawful.
The wellbeing and safety of all Cricket Participants is vital.
Like poor conduct or issues that occur in-person, poor conduct online should be dealt with swiftly and/or reported to your Club and/or State or Territory Cricket Associations MPIO.
If someone is targeted by online abuse refer to the relevant Member Protection, Complaints and Resolutions or other relevant policies.
You can also take extra steps to report serious online abuse.
- Collect evidence – take screenshots of what has happened and where
- Report to platform – report harmful posts or profiles to the online service or platform first
- Report to eSafety *– if the platform doesn't respond, report to eSafety. Image-based abuse should be reported immediately to eSafety
- Stop contact, tighten security and prevent sharing on Social Media accounts.
* The eSafety Commissioner (eSafety) is an Australian Government Organisation that can help deal with serious online abuse or illegal and restricted online content. In the most serious cases, eSafety can direct an online service or platform to remove harmful content that has been sent, posted or shared about them.
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Affiliated Associations, Clubs and Indoor Centres means any cricket association or club or indoor centre that has agreed to be bound by this Policy.
Cricket Participant means:
- Directors, committee members and officers of Affiliated Associations, Clubs or Indoor Centre Name
- Employees, consultants or contractors of Affiliated Associations, Clubs or Indoor Centre Name
- Volunteers of Affiliated Associations, Clubs or Indoor Centre Name
- Players that are registered with or entitled to participate in the activities of Affiliated Associations, Clubs or Indoor Centre Name
- Coaches (including assistant coaches), who:
- hold a Cricket Coaches Australia Accreditation unless the coach falls within the definition of Australian Cricket Personnel;
- are appointed and/or engaged by Affiliated Associations, Clubs or Indoor Centre Name
- have an agreement (whether or not in writing) with an Affiliated Association, Club or Indoor Centre to coach in a facility owned or managed by the State and Territory Cricket Association; or
- have an agreement (whether or not in writing) with an Affiliated Association, Club or Indoor Centre to coach in a facility owned or managed by the Affiliated Association or Club
- Umpires, selectors and other officials, who:
- hold a Cricket Umpires Australia Accreditation unless the umpire falls within the definition of Australian Cricket Personnel; or
- umpire or officiate cricket matches for Affiliated Associations, Clubs or Indoor Centres
- Cricket Blast Coordinators
- Team support staff;
- Parents/guardians holding a specific role within Affiliated Associations, Clubs or Indoor Centre Name (including regular scorers); and
- Any other person who has agreed to be bound by this Policy
Social Media means any online media (including websites and applications whether on a desktop computer, tablet or mobile device) that allows Cricket Participants to create, share, broadcast or exchange information, ideas, and pictures/videos in virtual communities and networks.
Commonly used Social Media platforms in Australia include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube and many others.
Spirit of Cricket means the Preamble to the Laws as published by the Marleybone Cricket Club which promotes respect, fairness, and positive conduct by all participants, upholding the game’s values beyond its Laws
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After a disappointing game, Jordan posts in the team WhatsApp: "If you mess up again Tom, you'll regret it."
- This kind of threatening behavior is a breach of the policy and creates a hostile environment.
Casey comments on a Facebook Post of the team lineup for the upcoming week saying: "They should go back to where they came from’
- Discriminatory comments like this are a breach of the policy and harmful.
Lisa shares a TikTok claiming: "Our club is shutting down next month, because of the Local Pub " when it is not true.
- Spreading false or misleading information about the club is a breach of the policy and can cause unnecessary panic and confusion.
- The person who finds this post should take a screenshot and report it to the club or association.
Riley comments on a Facebook Post of Frogbox footage from previous match: "That umpire should get back to the kitchen where she belongs’
- Discriminatory comments like this are a breach of the policy and harmful.
- As the comment has been left on another post, a screenshot should be taken and the comment requested to be deleted by Riley or the account holder for the Facebook Post.
Callum posts an offensive meme unrelated to cricket on his personal Instagram page.
- As the post is unrelated to cricket and posted on a personal page it is not a breach of the policy.
- They club or association may issue a request for Callum to remove this from his page.
- Depending on the content, this behaviour could be considered a breach of the club or associations code of conduct which can be enforced accordingly.
Samantha comments on a Facebook Post of Frogbox footage from previous match: "Come on Corey, what kind of a shot was that’
- While potentially unkind, Samantha’s comment is not a breach of the policy.
- If Corey finds the comment harmful, he may message Samantha directly or ask the posting account holder to have the comment deleted.
- If Samantha repeatedly posts negative comments about Corey, this behaviour could be considered a breach of the club or associations code of conduct or member protection policy which can be enforced accordingly.