Overview

Social media represents a shift in the way we as a culture communicate. By using Internet-based platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and You-Tube, social media provides new ways to connect, interact and learn. People no longer look for news; the news find them. And in the world of social media, the perception of truth can be just as powerful as the truth itself. The Internet moves information quickly, whether for good or bad. Social media, with a variety of available platforms, can instantaneously connect users within a global network, making the transfer of information even more pervasive. Today, social media use is so widespread and transparent that you may already be involved even if you are not actively participating. It is a highly effective tool for reaching large communities and audiences. But this substantial ability to connect with the masses is not without its risks. Using social media to spread information is becoming the standard, so it is important to understand the power, the benefits and the risks associated with using the various platforms. The Army recognizes that social media gives people the ability to communicate with larger audiences faster and in new ways. It has become an important tool for Army messaging and outreach. The Army uses a variety of social media platforms designed to support a range of media from text, audio, pictures and videos; all of which are generated and maintained by organizations and individuals within the Army Family. The Army understands the risks associated with social media and has developed training to help Soldiers and Family members use social media responsibly. Soldiers have always been the Army's best and most effective messengers. Today, Army social media enables the Army Family around town, around the country and around the world to stay connected and spread the Army's key themes and messages. Every time a member of the Army Family joins Army social media, it increases the timely and transparent dissemination of information. It ensures that the Army's story is shared honestly and directly to Americans where they are and whenever they want to see, read or hear it. Social media allows every Soldier to be a part of the Army story and it allows America to connect with its Army. Social media is a cheap, effective and measurable form of communication. The Army uses social media to tell the Army's story, but it also uses social media to listen. On February 25, 2010, the DoD re-issued a Directive-Type Memorandum providing guidelines for military use of social media and acknowledged that Internet-based capabilities are integral to operations across the Department of Defense. On March 1, 2011, William J. Lynn III, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, reauthorized Directive-Type Memorandum (DTM) 09-026 - Responsible and Effective Use of Internet-based Capabilities (Enclosure 1). The move extends the DTM through May 2012 and outlines how the NIPRNET should be configured to allow access to Internet-based capabilities across all DoD components. All service branches are using social media at different levels, but this DTM indicates that use of social media in the DoD is authorized. The extension is not a permanent solution, but it allows the military to continue using social media until a more permanent list of rules and regulations is established. The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense is currently working on all-encompassing policy including data points currently listed in DTM 09- 026 as well as updates to the DoD's 1998 web policy. The DoD instruction is in the creation stage since this policy is presently in draft form. Once vetted and approved, the instruction will be a compendium of everything that will be needed for use of Internet-based capabilities - to include content on ethics, operations security and information assurance. Once published, it will be posted on the Army's SlideShare site.

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