Despite many of the associated security risks and addressing policy problems, social media’s value and impact as a collaborative communication tool isn’t lost on the Department of Defense (DoD) and the military. The use of social media on DoD and military websites has grown at a furious rate in the past five years, in part because of its ability to reach millions of people in a fast and effective manner.
Despite a seemingly open arms approach to social media in recent years, there has also been a fair share of criticism. From concerns about operations security to service members losing their careers thanks to careless postings, the risks of social media use effect both individuals and networks.
In February of 2010, the DoD released a policy memorandum regarding the safe and effective use of social media. It is called the Directive-Type Memorandum (DTM) 09-026 – Responsible and Effective Use of Internet-based Capabilities. It was updated on July 15, 2012, and will remain in effect until the new policy is released.
The memorandum was specifically directed at all DoD components, which include:
- The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)
- The Military Departments
- The Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff
- The Combatant Commands
- The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense
- The Defense Agencies
- The DoD Field Activities
- All authorized users of the Non-Classified Internet Protocol Router Network
The DTM guidelines for social media include social media sites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), blogs, and Wikis. It also directs DoD leadership to:
a. Approve the establishment of external official presences.
b. Ensure the implementation, validation, and maintenance of applicable IA controls, information security procedures, and OPSEC measures.
c. Ensure that computer network defense mechanisms that provide adequate security for access to Internet-based capabilities from the NIPRNET are in place, effective, and compliant with DoD Instruction O-8530.2
d. Educate, train, and promote awareness for the responsible and effective use of Internet-based capabilities.
e. Monitor and evaluate the use of Internet-based capabilities to ensure compliance with this DTM.
The memorandum also includes very specific language which restricts the use of social media for certain activities, and must include protection from unwanted outcomes associated with negative application of social media, including “malicious activity, limiting access to the internet to preserve operations security and address bandwidth constraints.” It includes additional considerations to protect against illegal or criminal activity, pornography, or hate-crime related activities.
Like much of DoD policy, the DTM was meant to be a temporary policy solution until a more comprehensive set of guidelines could be created. Two years later, the DTM remains DoD’s primary response to social media issues, and efforts to regulate social media use remain largely focused at the local, rather than headquarters level.
As a recent overview in Federal Computer Week noted, creating effective social media policy in a bureaucracy isn’t for the faint of heart: “Perhaps the biggest issue in the military’s use of social media is security. And one of the biggest problems with security is that the traditional, bureaucratic approach isn’t flexible enough to keep up with the rapidly changing social media landscape. DOD’s goal for the new policy is that it will be broad and flexible enough to fill in the gaps that have emerged as social media has evolved and governance has taken shape.“
Diana M. Rodriguez is a native Washingtonian who currently works as a professional writer, blogger, social media expert, commentator, editor and public affairs practitioner. Diana previously worked as an editor and senior communications analyst for the Department of Defense.
