Report finds female councillors are more likely to be targets for social media abuse

The comments come as elected members on RMBC are to be reminded of the do’s and don’t of using personal online platforms.

Councillors will undertake training in order to use sites like Facebook and Twitter to highlight their work representing residents in their ward.

The four-page document also calls on members to be mindful when posting on social media due to news outlets following respected councillors. Each post is to be treated as a ‘mini press release’.

Democratic services officers at Rotherham Council said that social media can be ‘very useful’ in getting feedback on proposals and communicating information about councillors’ activities but can also lead to ‘knee-jerk’ reactions and responses, and ‘ill-advised and ill judged exchanges’.

Warning is also given on the issue of personal security and advise against publishing details like birthdays, places visited and relationships in a more private setting.

Stuart Fletcher, deputy monitoring officer at RMBC, said: “Some people say things via social media that they probably would not say in person, and they can post false information, insults or messages that you would not want to be associated with you.

“These can multiply and be shared quite rapidly. Councillors, and in particular female councillors, are unfortunately increasingly the subject of online abuse, bullying and harassment on social media.

“As such members need to be careful in the way they express themselves, where there is any suggestion that they are communicating in an official rather than a private capacity.”