Social media guidance for councillors
The LGA has produced a series of guides to support councillors in using social media.
Effective communication is vital for councillors. Social media can play a key role in achieving this, provided it is used in the right way.
Social media can enable councillors to:
- promote the work they are doing to a variety of audiences
- engage with residents, businesses and community groups
- listen to conversations and issues going on in their local areas.
The series of guides below explain how to use various social media platforms, provide advice on creating good content, give tips on accessibility and best practice, and show the best ways to engage in healthy debate and tackle online abuse.
In this section:
Overview of social media for councillors
This is an introduction for councillors on the use of social media. It includes an overview of how and why councillors should use it, their responsibilities, ways to stay safe and approaches to handling negativity.
Guide to tackling online abuse
This guide will explore the growing problem of online abuse and attacks. Many councillors experience this sort of negativity on social media. It is important to know how to identify it and effectively deal with it
Guide to using Instagram
This is an introductory guide for councillors on how to use Instagram. It provides advice on how to get started, the different ways to use it, how to engage effectively with residents and ways to keep yourself safe and secure.
Guide to using Nextdoor
This is an introductory guide for local councillors on how to use Nextdoor. The guide provides advice and guidance on how to get started, how to get involved in your neighbourhood and how to keep yourself safe using the platform.
Guide to the role of councillors on social media
This guide explores the role councillors can play on social media, how to engage in healthy debate and tackle misinformation, as well as what to consider when publishing or sharing content.
Guide to creating accessible social media content
This is a brief introductory guide to social media accessibility for councillors. The advice is not specific to any social media platform.
Guide to using Twitter
This is an introductory guide for councillors on how to use Twitter. It provides advice and guidance on how to use it, ways to achieve greater engagement with residents in your local area, and how to stay safe and secure.
Guide to creating content for social media
This is an introductory guide for councillors about how to create social media content. It also briefly sets out how councillors can positively engage with other people, and organisations, on social media.
Guide to using Facebook
This is an introductory guide for councillors on how to use Facebook. The guide provides advice and guidance on getting started, the different ways to use it, ideas to strengthen your engagement and how to stay safe and secure.
Guide to using YouTube
This is an introductory guide for councillors on how to use YouTube. The guide provides advice and guidance on how to get started, what kinds of videos work, how to create them and ways of dealing with comments from the public