Social Media Policy

Introduction

I am proud to represent Bournemouth East in Parliament, and I am keen to hear from and engage with as many residents as possible.

I use my social media platforms to promote my activities and priorities as I work on behalf of residents, and I post about local issues and national policy. I know that not everyone agrees with me on everything, and I respect this.

However, these topics need to be discussed with respect and moderation. No one should feel intimidated or threatened, either online or offline. Sadly, some people use social media to harass other users. I disagree with this; I don’t harass or abuse those with whom I disagree. As a result, I have some “ground rules” for my social media channels designed to foster mutual respect and common courtesy.

My social media channels are owned, curated, and moderated by me, and my team help me with this. And while I do my best to reply to comments, the comment section isn’t the best place to raise issues that require an in-depth response. It is always best to send your enquiry to [email protected].

The Ground Rules:

  1. I don’t tolerate abuse and threats—whether directed at other users or at me—even if you feel the words you used were mild or a joke. Any comments that are impolite or not respectful may be hidden or deleted without notice. The account that is posting them may also be blocked.
  2. My profiles primarily promote my work in Parliament for constituents and champion local issues. Many of the people featured on my social media are not affiliated with the Labour Party or me; any abusive or threatening comments directed towards them may be hidden or deleted, and the poster may be blocked without notice.
  3. Spam is also not tolerated. This includes persistent posting of comments across posts or platforms—either repeating the same thing or commenting on topics unrelated to the post. Such comments may be hidden or deleted, and the poster may be blocked without notice.
  4. Likewise, comments that are intended to deflect or divert attention from the content of the main post may be removed without notice.
  5. Please don’t share personal or sensitive information about yourself or anyone else in the comments. If you need help with a personal issue or casework, email [email protected] so that my team and I can respond appropriately. Comments that disclose private details about another person will be deleted to protect their privacy.
  6. Discriminatory language, including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or any other form of hate speech, will not be tolerated. Such comments may be hidden or deleted, and the accounts posting them may be blocked and, where appropriate, reported.
  7. Comments that make serious allegations about identifiable individuals or organisations, especially where they may be defamatory, may be removed. These should be raised either directly with the police or emailed to me at [email protected]. In some cases, we advise you to use the proper complaint channels instead or seek independent advice.
  8. In cases of persistent harassment, threats, or behaviour that poses a concern for my safety, my staff, or others, I may report accounts and content to the social media platform and, if necessary, to the relevant authorities. Screenshots of abusive or threatening content may be retained as evidence.
  9. My social media channels are usually monitored during office hours on weekdays. I cannot guarantee a response to every comment or message (on Instagram), but I do read feedback and take it into account in my work.
  10. These rules apply across all my social media platforms. I may update them from time to time to reflect changes in the law, platform policies, or experiences.

I want my pages to be a place where residents can see what I am doing for Bournemouth East and where genuine, respectful debate can take place.

Thank you for helping to make that possible.

Contact Us:

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Tom Hayes MP:

Last Updated: 03.12.25