Social Media and Community Policy
Definitions: Verity – The Polycystic Ovaries Self Help Group is a company limited by guarantee (04404798) and a registered charity in England and Wales (1097599). Herein we refer to it or its officers as Verity, or the Charity, or Verity (PMOS UK).
This policy explains how Verity uses social media and online community spaces, what you can expect from us, and what we ask of you. It applies to everyone who takes part in our online spaces. It sits alongside our Media and Public Communications Policy, which governs how our own people communicate on Verity’s behalf.
1. Purpose and scope
Verity uses social media to support and advocate for people living with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS). Our online spaces exist to share reliable information, raise awareness, support research, and provide a safe place for peer support.
This policy applies to Verity’s public social media channels and to the online communities we run, including our closed Facebook groups. Individual groups also have their own House Rules, which apply in addition to this policy. Where a platform’s own terms and community standards apply, they apply too.
2. What you can expect from us
In our online spaces, Verity will:
Verity is run entirely by volunteers. Our channels are monitored by Trustees and volunteer moderators, and we aim to respond as soon as we reasonably can – but we cannot monitor our spaces around the clock, and we are not able to respond individually to personal enquiries.
Our online spaces are not a crisis service and are not a substitute for medical care. If you are a patient of PMOS, or a loved one of someone who is, and you need support:
3. What we ask of you
When taking part in our online spaces, please:
4. What we do not allow
We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse. We do not allow:
5. Moderation – how we handle this
Where a post or comment breaches this policy or a group’s House Rules, we may hide or delete it, or ask you to edit it. Where behaviour is repeated, serious, or puts others at risk, we may remove and ban a person from our spaces. We may also report content or accounts to the platform, and, where someone may be at risk of harm or a criminal offence may have occurred, to the appropriate authorities.
We aim to be proportionate and to explain our decisions where we reasonably can. However, moderation decisions are ultimately at the discretion of Verity’s Trustees and moderators, and we may act without prior warning where content is harmful, promotional or puts our community at risk.
If you see something concerning, please report it using the platform’s reporting function so a moderator can act, or contact us at [email protected]. Please do not engage with abusive content yourself.
6. Researchers, journalists and businesses
To protect our community, researchers, journalists and commercial organisations must not post directly in our communities. Please contact us first so we can consider your request and, if approved, post on your behalf:
7. Privacy and consent
We will not share your personal details, photographs or story publicly without your explicit permission. If you take part in a campaign, case study or research call-out, we will tell you how your information will be used and ask for your consent first, and you can withdraw it.
Please remember that anything you post in a public channel can be seen by anyone. Our closed groups are private, but no online space is ever completely secure – please share as mindfully as you would anywhere online. Posting anonymously is an option in our Facebook groups.
Personal information you share with us is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Data Protection Policy.
8. Information, not medical advice
Information shared by Verity and by members in our online spaces is for general information and peer support only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Please discuss any decisions about your health with your own clinician.
9. Links to other sites
We sometimes link to other organisations’ sites and resources for information. Verity does not endorse, and is not responsible for, the content of those sites.
10. Complaints and concerns
If you are unhappy with something we have posted, or with a moderation decision, please raise it with us directly rather than in a public thread – email [email protected] and we will look into it. Complaints are handled under our Complaints Policy. If your concern relates to the safety or wellbeing of an adult at risk, please contact us at [email protected] and it will be dealt with under our Safeguarding Policy.
11. Changes to this policy
We may amend this policy at any time by updating this page. Please check back for the current version.
Governance
This policy is reviewed, updated and agreed by the Board of Trustees at least annually.
This policy explains how Verity uses social media and online community spaces, what you can expect from us, and what we ask of you. It applies to everyone who takes part in our online spaces. It sits alongside our Media and Public Communications Policy, which governs how our own people communicate on Verity’s behalf.
1. Purpose and scope
Verity uses social media to support and advocate for people living with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS). Our online spaces exist to share reliable information, raise awareness, support research, and provide a safe place for peer support.
This policy applies to Verity’s public social media channels and to the online communities we run, including our closed Facebook groups. Individual groups also have their own House Rules, which apply in addition to this policy. Where a platform’s own terms and community standards apply, they apply too.
2. What you can expect from us
In our online spaces, Verity will:
- share accurate, evidence-based information from credible sources, and correct mistakes promptly when we get something wrong;
- communicate in a warm, respectful and professional tone, and be mindful that PMOS affects people differently;
- moderate our spaces so they remain safe and supportive;
- remain politically neutral – we hold no party-political affiliation, though we engage with all parties to further our charitable aims;
- not endorse products, treatments, individuals, clinics, companies or services; and
- protect your privacy and handle any personal information in line with our Privacy Policy.
- we are not responsible for others advice although we will endeavour to keep an eye on posts and requests report functions of the individual social media platforms are used to ensure moderators are alerted
Verity is run entirely by volunteers. Our channels are monitored by Trustees and volunteer moderators, and we aim to respond as soon as we reasonably can – but we cannot monitor our spaces around the clock, and we are not able to respond individually to personal enquiries.
Our online spaces are not a crisis service and are not a substitute for medical care. If you are a patient of PMOS, or a loved one of someone who is, and you need support:
- for medical concerns, please contact your GP;
- for peer support, you are welcome in our online support groups, or you can find your nearest local support group via our website;
- if you are in need of urgent emotional support, please contact The Samaritans on 116 123, available 24 hours a day; and
- if you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 999.
3. What we ask of you
When taking part in our online spaces, please:
- be kind, respectful and considerate of others’ feelings, experiences and differing views;
- remember that tone is easily lost online – what reads as direct to you may feel intimidating to someone else;
- respect other people’s privacy, and do not share, screenshot or repeat what others post in our closed groups;
- share your own experience rather than giving medical advice to others; and
- follow the House Rules of any group you join.
4. What we do not allow
We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse. We do not allow:
- hate speech, discrimination or prejudice of any kind, including on the basis of sex, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief;
- bullying, harassment, intimidation, threats or personal attacks;
- sexual harassment or unwanted conduct of a sexual nature;
- content that encourages self-harm, disordered eating or other harmful behaviour;
- promotion of products, treatments, services, clinics or businesses, or posting in a commercial capacity;
- misinformation about PMOS or health more generally;
- sharing others’ personal information, or approaching members privately having met them in our spaces;
- research recruitment or media requests posted directly – these must come to us first (see Section 6); or
- anything unlawful, including content that infringes copyright or is defamatory.
5. Moderation – how we handle this
Where a post or comment breaches this policy or a group’s House Rules, we may hide or delete it, or ask you to edit it. Where behaviour is repeated, serious, or puts others at risk, we may remove and ban a person from our spaces. We may also report content or accounts to the platform, and, where someone may be at risk of harm or a criminal offence may have occurred, to the appropriate authorities.
We aim to be proportionate and to explain our decisions where we reasonably can. However, moderation decisions are ultimately at the discretion of Verity’s Trustees and moderators, and we may act without prior warning where content is harmful, promotional or puts our community at risk.
If you see something concerning, please report it using the platform’s reporting function so a moderator can act, or contact us at [email protected]. Please do not engage with abusive content yourself.
6. Researchers, journalists and businesses
To protect our community, researchers, journalists and commercial organisations must not post directly in our communities. Please contact us first so we can consider your request and, if approved, post on your behalf:
- Researchers: research requests – [email protected]
- Journalists: media and case study requests – [email protected]
- Businesses and sole traders: we do not accept promotion of companies, products or services in our communities.
7. Privacy and consent
We will not share your personal details, photographs or story publicly without your explicit permission. If you take part in a campaign, case study or research call-out, we will tell you how your information will be used and ask for your consent first, and you can withdraw it.
Please remember that anything you post in a public channel can be seen by anyone. Our closed groups are private, but no online space is ever completely secure – please share as mindfully as you would anywhere online. Posting anonymously is an option in our Facebook groups.
Personal information you share with us is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Data Protection Policy.
8. Information, not medical advice
Information shared by Verity and by members in our online spaces is for general information and peer support only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Please discuss any decisions about your health with your own clinician.
9. Links to other sites
We sometimes link to other organisations’ sites and resources for information. Verity does not endorse, and is not responsible for, the content of those sites.
10. Complaints and concerns
If you are unhappy with something we have posted, or with a moderation decision, please raise it with us directly rather than in a public thread – email [email protected] and we will look into it. Complaints are handled under our Complaints Policy. If your concern relates to the safety or wellbeing of an adult at risk, please contact us at [email protected] and it will be dealt with under our Safeguarding Policy.
11. Changes to this policy
We may amend this policy at any time by updating this page. Please check back for the current version.
Governance
This policy is reviewed, updated and agreed by the Board of Trustees at least annually.
