Social Media Terms of Use
This document contains information for followers of government social media accounts, including but not limited to, those listed on novascotia.ca/connect.
Thank you for following the Nova Scotia government on social media.
Social media allows government to reach Nova Scotians and provide timely information, important resources, and responses to questions.
The type of content shared includes:
- Announcements and news
- Information on government priorities, programs, and services
- Photos and videos
- Safety and emergency updates
- Stories about people, communities, culture, and business in Nova Scotia
Monitoring
Social media accounts are generally active Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., unless otherwise stated. Posting and responses will typically occur during those hours. Enquiries during the evening or on weekends will be responded to during regular working hours.
Enquiries
Government social media accounts respond to questions during regular working hours. While staff try to respond to all enquiries, sometimes post volume may prevent individual responses.
Users should direct enquiries that are confidential, too complicated, or need a comprehensive response to the Public Enquiries Form
Commenting
While we encourage public dialogue, we ask that comments on government social media accounts be relevant and respectful. We reserve the right to delete comments that we feel are inappropriate, and to block any user to prevent further comments of this nature. We reserve the right to remove comments that include, but are not limited, to use of:
- Profane language of any kind.
- Language not respectful of other users of the site (including harassing, aggressive, or abusive language)
- Comments that encourage or suggest illegal activity
- Comments that are repetitive or spam
- Abusive or oppressive language, content, or links. This includes comments that are racist, sexist, homophobic, misogynistic, transphobic, or promote bigotry in any way.
- Sexually explicit or violent imagery or links.
- Harassing or abusive language towards individuals or groups.
- Information that violates an individual’s or group’s privacy.
- Business solicitations or “spamming”.
- Off-topic or irrelevant content.
- Misinformation and unproven or inaccurate accusations.
Government social media accounts will not be used to engage in partisan commentary. Comments on Government of Nova Scotia posts are not endorsed by government.
Repeated breach of these guidelines will result in the user being reported to the associated social media platform.
Links to other websites and ads
Links to third-party websites or ads for third-party products or services may be displayed on our platforms, however they are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Nova Scotia. The Government of Nova Scotia is not responsible for the information found through these links or ads.
Privacy
Nova Scotia government social media accounts are hosted by third-party service providers and are outside the control of the Government of Nova Scotia. Users are encouraged to read affiliated privacy statements and user agreements before signing up for these services. Our social media platforms are publicly accessible and comments are visible to the public.
Best practice would be to refrain from posting your, or others’, personal information on these platforms.
To the extent that content is collected through a social media platform, the Government of Nova Scotia follows its Website Privacy Policy and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
**The Government of Nova Scotia reserves the right to modify these guidelines at any time. Continuing to follow government’s social media platforms constitutes acceptance of these terms.
Updated: 11 Dec 2020