Medina considers social media policy for village government

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 September 2019 at 12:52 pm

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board wants to have a Facebook page for the village government but first will develop a policy for what type of news and events will be shared, and if comments will be allowed.

If comments are allowed and some seem like personal attacks or uncalled for criticism, the Village Board will consider whether there will be a threshold for removing those comments.

“I question the removal of negative comments,” said Trustee Owen Toale.

He said he is often shocked at how nasty and mean-spirited people can be on Facebook. He worries about that on an official village social media page.

The Medina Fire Department and Police Department each have their own Facebook pages.

“They get tons of positive comments,” said Mayor Mike Sidari.

He wanted the village to check if negative comments can be allowed or if that is considered a form of censorship.

Todd Bensley, a village trustee, said the village should either have a Facebook page that doesn’t allow comments, or allow them all – including all of the negative comments. He thinks deleting comments would be considered censorship by the community.

The board said it will continue to look at options. It wants to use social media to help get information out about the village government.

Return to top