Social Media Use Policy

MEA Social Media Terms of Use

Michigan Education Association Social Media Terms of Use

Welcome to the official social media webpages, profiles, and accounts (hereinafter MEA Pages) of the Michigan Education Association (hereinafter “We” or “MEA”). References in this Terms of Use (“TOU”) to the MEA do not include webpages, profiles, or accounts maintained or owned by Local Affiliates of the MEA. This TOU applies to all MEA Pages managed by the MEA, its personnel, designees, implementing partners, and agents, including but not limited to the following:

Acceptance of Terms of Use

MEA provides MEA Pages as an information service to you (“user” or “party), subject to the following TOU and your acceptance thereof. Use of any MEA Page is voluntary. If you do not accept any term contained in this TOU, you may not use any MEA Pages. Your use of any MEA Page constitutes your acceptance of this TOU. This TOU may be updated by MEA from time to time without notice to you. It is your responsibility to check this TOU periodically for any changes. Your continued use of any MEA Page following the posting of any changes to this TOU constitutes your acceptance of the changes. Please note that users of MEA Pages are also subject to the Terms of Service (“TOS”) of each respective third-party social media platform (e.g. Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram) on which MEA Pages operate.

Platform Privacy Policies

By using or otherwise accessing social media platforms on which MEA maintains MEA Pages, you are accepting the practices described in each social media platform’s privacy policy and each platform’s TOS. MEA neither controls nor holds any responsibility over the privacy practices or TOS of social media platforms on which it operates MEA Pages. As such, MEA’s Privacy Policy does not apply to the platforms themselves. You may find MEA’s Privacy Policy here.

When you visit a platform, you provide it with two types of information: any personal information you knowingly choose to disclose that is collected by the platform, and information collected by the platform on your usage of the platform as you interact with an MEA Page.

When you register with any social media platform, you may provide it with certain personal information, such as your name, your email address, your telephone number, your address, your gender, schools attended and any other personal or preference information that you provide to it. MEA does not store any of this information or any additional user information beyond that which may already be stored for your account by the platform.

In this TOU, “Content” is defined as any information, communications, links, messages, images, photos, videos, or other data. When posting Content to MEA Pages, you simultaneously post content on the social media platforms on which the MEA Pages operate, and you do so at your own risk. Although platforms may allow you to set privacy options that limit access to your account(s), please be aware that no platform security measures are perfect or impenetrable, and the MEA cannot control the actions of any other users who may be able to view your accounts and information. Therefore, MEA cannot and does not guarantee that any Content you post to any MEA Page on a platform will be inaccessible to unauthorized persons.

Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account login credentials. MEA will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from any activities that occur under your login and/or account. See each platform’s TOS for information regarding its own security practices.

User Conduct

You understand that Content, whether publicly posted or privately transmitted, is the sole responsibility of the user or person with whom such Content originated. This means that you, not MEA, are entirely responsible for any Content you post, email, transmit or otherwise make available on or to a social media platform on which the MEA maintains MEA Pages. The MEA does not control any Content posted except as described below and, as such, does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity, or quality of such Content. You understand that by visiting MEA Pages, you may be exposed to Content that you find objectionable.

You agree not to use any MEA Page to:

  • post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, discriminatory, hateful, or racially ethnically or otherwise objectionable;
  • harm minors in any way;
  • impersonate any person or entity;
  • forge headers or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any Content transmitted through an MEA Page;
  • post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any Content that you do not have a right to make available under any law or contractual or fiduciary relationships (such as, for example, classified information, inside information, proprietary and confidential information learned or disclosed as part of employment relationships), or under nondisclosure agreements;
  • post, email, transmit, or otherwise use any depiction or reproduction of any MEA logos, symbols, or insignia without authorization;
  • post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any Content that infringes any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, right of publicity, right of privacy, or other right of any party;
  • post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, “junk mail,” “chain letters,” “pyramid schemes,” or any other form of solicitation;
  • post spam, automated messages, or other comments not related to the topic discussed;
  • post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any material that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files, or programs designed to interrupt, destroy, or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment;
  • disrupt the normal flow of dialogue or otherwise act in a manner that negatively affects other users’ ability to engage in discussions;
  • interfere with or disrupt an MEA Page, the platform on which it operates, or servers or networks connected to MEA Pages, or disobey any requirements, procedures, policies, or regulations of networks connected to an MEA Page;
  • intentionally or unintentionally violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law;
  • stalk or otherwise harass another user or person; or
  • collect or store personal data about other users.

Under no circumstances will MEA be liable in any way for any Content post by you or another MEA Page or platform user (including, but not limited to, any errors or omissions in any such Content), or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any Content posted, emailed, transmitted, or otherwise made available via an MEA Page or platform.

You understand that although the MEA does not pre-screen all Content posted on MEA Pages it manages, the MEA may in its sole discretion refuse, decline, block, edit, delete, or move any Content that is available via MEA Pages. Without limiting the foregoing, MEA shall have the right to remove any Content that violates this TOU or is otherwise at odds with the intended purpose(s) of an MEA Page. You agree that you must evaluate, and bear all risks associated with, the use of any Content you post, including any reliance by any party or other user on the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such Content.

You understand and agree that MEA may preserve Content and may also disclose Content if required or permitted to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such preservation or disclosure is reasonably necessary to: (a) comply with a legal process; (b) enforce this TOU; (c) respond to claims that any Content violates the rights of third parties; or (d) protect the rights, property, or safety of MEA, users of MEA Pages, or members of the public.

You understand that technical processing and transmissions with respect to an MEA Page, including any Content you post, may involve (a) transmissions over various networks, and (b) changes to conform and adapt to technical requirements of connecting networks or devices.

You understand that if you post any Content that contains statements or depictions of violence against a person, group of people, or country, the MEA may report your activity, to include the Content, to an appropriate law enforcement agency/agencies.

You understand and agree that MEA may track and address violations of this TOU on an MEA Page, to include carrying our potential blocking and other moderation actions. The purpose of such tracking is to assist in identifying and determining patterns of recurring violations of this TOU.

Special Admonitions

Recognizing the global nature of the internet, you agree to comply with all local rules regarding online conduct and Content. Specifically, you agree to comply with any applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data from the United States or the country in which you reside or from which you are using or accessing an MEA Page.

Your License to MEA

The MEA does not claim ownership of any Content you post or otherwise make available for inclusion on an MEA Page, unless such Content is in fact MEA-owned. However, by posting or otherwise submitting Content to an MEA Page, you grant MEA a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, perform, display and distribute such Content in any and all media or distribution methods now known or later developed.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold the MEA, and its officers, agents, grantees, or other partners, and employees, harmless from any claim or demand including reasonable attorneys’ fees, made by any third party due to or arising our of any Content you submit, post, transmit, or make available through an MEA Page, your use of the platform on which it operates, your connection to the platform, or any violation by you of this TOU or of any rights of another.

No resale of Service

You agree to not reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell, or exploit for any commercial purposes or activities, any portion of, use of, or access to, an MEA Page.

General practices regarding use and storage

You acknowledge that MEA may in its sole discretion establish general practices and limits concerning use of MEA Pages, including, without limitation, the maximum number of days that Content will be retained by an MEA Page, and the maximum number of times (and the maximum duration of each) you may access an MEA Page in a given period of time. You agree that MEA has no responsibility or liability for the deletion or failure to store any Content maintained or transmitted by an MEA Page. You further acknowledge that MEA reserves the right to change these general practices and limits at any time, in its sole discretion.

Modifications to Service

MEA reserves the right to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, in full or in part, an MEA Page that it operates on a platform and the functions available to users on an MEA Page, and to delete or remove any Content that MEA has posted/provided on an MEA Page and/or platform. MEA will not be liable to you or a third party for any such modification, suspension, or discontinuance.

Termination

You understand and agree that MEA may terminate your access to an MEA Page if the MEA believes that you have violated or acted inconsistently with the letter or spirit of this TOU. MEA will not terminate your access solely on the basis of viewpoint. You understand and agree that any termination of your access to an MEA Page pursuant to this TOU may be effected without prior notice and that the MEA may immediately suspend your access to the MEA Page. Further, you agree that the MEA shall not be liable to you or any third party for any termination of your access to an MEA Page.

Links

Links to social media platforms, websites, or digital resources may appear on an MEA Page. You acknowledge and agree that MEA is not responsible for the availability of any such external sites or resources, and neither endorses nor is responsible or liable for any Content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from any such sites or resources. Any such third-party sites operate under separate Terms of Use and Privacy statements. You agree not to hold MEA liable for any breaches of information provided on any such sites. You further acknowledge and agree that MEA shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use or reliance on any Content, goods, or services available on or through any such site or resource.

Updates/Revisions

MEA reserves the right to change this TOU at any time. Any changes will be publicly incorporated into the TOU. We encourage you to review this TOU on an ongoing basis.

Definitions of Certain Terms

  • Social Media Platform: A third party-provided platform that allows for publishing, communication, engagement, and collaboration among individuals and entities.
  • MEA Page: An individual, branded page built on a social media platform and managed by MEA.
  • Privacy policy: A statement made by an organization regarding why, how, and pursuant to what legal authority (if applicable) personal data is being collected on a public webpage or social media page, and how the owner of the page will use any information obtained.
  • Terms of Service (TOS): A contract between a social media platform provider and the MEA regarding the MEA’s use of that social media platform.
  • Terms of Use (TOU): An agreement between MEA and users of MEA Pages.