May 2012 - Updated October 2017 and February 2025

Purpose
The intent of this policy is to preserve the mission, reputation, and property of The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP), and to promote the organization and interaction among members, colleagues, the media, and larger audiences through the prudent use of social media. This policy applies to all types of social media known today, or that may be developed in the future. Without intending to limit the scope of this policy, and only to provide examples, these social media include platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, blogs, new media comment sections, and other networking sites.

Policies
1. The name, marks, and logos of IAFP are solely owned by IAFP, and all rights are reserved. This includes but is not limited to the following program names: The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians and the Family Health Foundation of Illinois. The marks and logos of IAFP may not be used by any third party without the written consent of IAFP.
2. All members and staff of the IAFP are encouraged to maintain the highest standards on their own personal social media pages and are expected to do so whenever there is any reference to The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians. Participation as a member or staff in any IAFP social media platform requires that participants consent that the IAFP has the right to object to and to prohibit improper uses in social media of the chapter name, trademark, servicemark, logos, or other intellectual property, as well as improper references to any Illinois Academy of Family Physicians affiliation. IAFP members and staff are encouraged to share, retweet, and post (with attribution) messages from the IAFP on social media channels.
3. The IAFP is the only entity authorized to create and maintain public social media sites or web pages in the name of IAFP, whose rights may be delegated. All material associated with the IAFP that is posted on public sites will maintain the IAFP's high standards. IAFP’s social media platforms include:
X formerly Twitter: @IllinoisAFP: Anyone can follow IAFP’s Twitter feed and is welcome to retweet or reply to a tweet anytime.
Facebook: Illinois Academy of Family Physicians: Like it, follow it, and connect with the family medicine family. Photos, events, and links are all on our page.
Instagram: @IllinoisAFP: Anyone may follow IAFP on Instagram
YouTube: General and OnDemand Education
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/illinois-academy-of-family-physicians
LinkedIn Discussion Group: Illinois Academy of Family Physicians is limited to the following:
IAFP members and staff
AAFP members and staff
Other AFP Chapters
All discussion is restricted to the group and should focus on topics of interest or concern to family medicine/health care. Members are allowed and encouraged to seek employment opportunities through this group, but should refrain from personal discussions.

All social media is subject to and not limited to the following:
a. The IAFP administrator may remove from its social media or other website any inappropriate posts, unauthorized members, copyright, servicemark or trademark material that is not the property of IAFP or its members, as determined in its sole discretion.
b. All contributors of content will state their affiliation with the IAFP.
c. All posts will be respectful. And posts deemed spam, off-topic, derogatory, or offensive will be removed immediately. No personal attacks will be permitted.
d. The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians education programs are for IAFP only, and not to be distributed by any means. The IAFP education programs are proprietary and constitute intellectual property protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws.
e. All social media communication will be transparent and not in any way a violation of IAFP privacy, confidentiality, and legal guidelines for external commercial, personal, or political speech.
f. Any post that attempts to sell a product or service that is not affiliated with IAFP will be removed. Anyone who posts a personal product or service on IAFP’s social media platforms will receive a warning and be subject to blocking after any future violation of this policy.
g. All news media inquiries submitted via social media must be referred to the Vice President of Communications.
h. Due to the permanent nature and accessibility of any person’s internet presence, all content should be carefully considered prior to publication. Please read your comment or post aloud one final time before you post. If you would be embarrassed to show that content to your boss or a family member, do not post it.
4. The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians reserves the right to amend this policy at any time by posting a notice on its website.