Our Social Media Policy
Eastern Shore Undercover® is committed to delivering timely and accurate news to our community. Our social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, Rumble, Threads, Truth Social, and Bluesky, serve as primary channels for communication and information dissemination.
Engagement with these platforms is contingent upon adherence to the guidelines outlined in this policy. This document details the principles and rules governing user conduct and content management to ensure our platforms remain safe, respectful, and informative environments.
This comprehensive guide will explain each component of our social media policy, providing clarity on our commitment to authenticity, safety, and professionalism.
Core Principles of Our Social Media Engagement
Our social media policy is founded on several core principles that guide our interactions and content management. These principles are designed to uphold the mission of Eastern Shore Undercover® as a trusted news source while ensuring a positive user experience.
The key principles include a commitment to authenticity, maintaining a professional and respectful environment, prioritizing user safety, respecting privacy, and ensuring transparency in our operations. Each guideline is a direct reflection of these values.
By engaging with our social media pages, users agree to uphold these standards. This agreement helps us maintain a platform where important community news can be shared and discussed without the disruption of off-topic conversations, harassment, or misinformation.
The following sections provide a detailed breakdown of each policy component, explaining the rationale behind the rules and the procedures for their enforcement.
Commitment to Content Authenticity
The foundation of Eastern Shore Undercover® is our unwavering commitment to providing authentic and credible news. We understand the responsibility that comes with being a primary source of information for the community and take extensive measures to ensure the integrity of our content.
Sourcing and Verification
All news content published on our social media platforms originates from reliable and verifiable sources. These sources include, but are not limited to:
- Official police, fire, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dispatch communications.
- Information provided by trustworthy and vetted informants.
- Verified press releases from law enforcement and other government agencies.
We have a rigorous verification process in place. Before any information is published, it is cross-referenced and confirmed to the best of our ability.
Updates are provided as new information becomes available and is verified, ensuring that our community receives the most current and accurate details possible.
No Fabricated News or Clickbait
Eastern Shore Undercover® has a zero-tolerance policy for fabricated news and clickbait. We pledge never to create or distribute intentionally misleading stories.
Our headlines and content are designed to accurately reflect the substance of the news report, not to sensationalize or attract clicks through deceptive means. This commitment to factual reporting is central to the trust we have built with our audience.
Standards for User Conduct and Comments
To maintain a professional and respectful atmosphere, we have established clear standards for user conduct. Our audience includes a wide demographic, including adults and high school-aged individuals, which necessitates a considerate approach to communication.
Language and Professionalism
Users are expected to maintain a professional tone in their comments. While we recognize that news can evoke strong emotions, we require that all interactions remain civil.
- Foul Language: We ask that users minimize the use of vulgar or profane language. Our automated intelligence management systems are configured to detect and remove comments containing excessively vulgar terms. This rule is in place to ensure our page remains accessible and appropriate for all age groups.
Harassment and Degradation
We are committed to the equal dignity and rights of all our followers. Any form of harassment, degradation, or derogatory commentary is not tolerated.
- Racial Comments: Racially charged or discriminatory comments are strictly forbidden. Users who post such content will be immediately and permanently banned from all our social media pages. NO EXCEPTIONS! Eastern Shore Undercover® is a platform that welcomes individuals of all races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
- Respect for All: Comments intended to harass, intimidate, or degrade any individual or group will be removed, and the user will be subject to a ban. Respect is a paramount value, and we enforce it diligently to protect our community members.
Content Moderation and Management Policies
To ensure our social media channels remain focused and secure, we adhere to specific policies regarding content moderation. These rules are applied consistently to maintain a fair and orderly environment.
Removal of Posts
As a matter of policy, published posts are not removed. This practice supports our core value of transparency, ensuring that a complete record of public and appropriate calls is accessible to the community.
An exception is made only when a removal request comes from law enforcement, a fire department, or another qualified government agency for a specific operational or investigative reason.
This policy prevents favoritism or bias in our reporting and reinforces the trust our community places in us.
Page Complaints and User Choice
We acknowledge that our content may not appeal to every individual. Our goal is to provide a diverse range of news articles each day. We support our followers' freedom to choose what content they engage with.
If a user finds that our page no longer aligns with their preferences, they are free to unfollow at any time.
However, we maintain a strict policy regarding complaints posted directly on our pages.
Individuals who complain about the content we publish or the way we operate our pages will be removed. This measure is in place to keep the comment sections focused on the news topic at hand, rather than discussions about our operational choices.
We believe that engagement should be voluntary, and users who are dissatisfied have the option to disengage by unfollowing.
Relevance of Comments
To maintain clarity and focus, all comments must be relevant to the original post. Off-topic comments, even those intended to be humorous, can create confusion and divert the conversation. Our moderators will remove comments that are unrelated to the topic of the post.
Safety and Privacy Protocols
The safety and privacy of our community members are of utmost importance. We have implemented strict protocols to protect individuals from harm and to safeguard personal information.
Threats and Harmful Comments
Safety is our top priority. We will not tolerate any comments that are threatening or could be construed as a threat. Any such comment will be removed immediately, and the user will be permanently banned from our pages without exception.
Our platform must be a safe space for everyone, free from intimidation, threats, and harassment.
Protection of Personal Information
We are committed to respecting privacy. Personal information, such as home addresses, phone numbers, or other identifying details, is not permitted in our posts or comments.
- Our Posts: We will only publish personal information if it is provided by a government agency in an official, verifiable capacity, such as a press release detailing charges or convictions.
- User Comments: Any comment containing personally identifying information about an individual will be removed to protect their privacy.
Linking and External URLs
To protect our community from potential security risks and misinformation, we do not permit the posting of external links or URLs in the comments section.
- Verification: We do not have the resources to verify the content and safety of external links.
- Security: Links can often contain viruses, spam, or malware, and prohibiting them helps protect our followers from these threats.
- Our automated intelligence management system is designed to automatically detect and remove any comments containing URLs.
Operational Procedures
To manage user expectations and maintain efficiency, we have established clear procedures for certain operational aspects of our social media management.
Updates on Posts and Articles
While we strive to provide updates on developing stories, information is not always available. We ask that users refrain from sending direct messages to the page requesting updates.
When an update is verified and becomes available, it will be added to the original post to ensure all information is consolidated in one place.
A Shared Responsibility
By adhering to these guidelines, our community members play a vital role in helping Eastern Shore Undercover® remain a trusted and valuable resource.
These rules are not intended to stifle conversation but to ensure that it remains productive, respectful, and safe for everyone. We appreciate the cooperation of our followers in maintaining a high-quality platform for news and discussion.
Thank you for being a part of our growing community and for contributing to a safe, respectful, and informative environment.
(This policy was last updated on Sept 15, 2025.)