The landscape of social media is constantly evolving, and so are the policies governing how military personnel engage with it. The U.S. Army, like other branches of the military and the Department of Defense (DoD) as a whole, regularly updates its social media guidelines to address new challenges, maintain operational security, and uphold the integrity of the force.

Here's a breakdown of what you need to know about recent changes and ongoing considerations for Army social media policy:

I. Recent High-Profile Changes (as of early 2025 information):

One of the most significant recent directives has come from the DoD regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) content.

Purge of DEI Content: In early 2025, a memo was issued requiring all military services to review and potentially remove content that "promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion" from their official social media sites and websites. This directive is part of a broader executive order to end federal government DEI programs.

Deadline and Scope: Services were given a tight deadline (e.g., March 5, 2025) to scour years of content (website postings, photos, news articles, videos) and remove DEI mentions. If unable to meet the deadline, they were ordered to temporarily remove all content published during the Biden administration's four years in office.

Content Affected: This includes content promoting programs or materials about critical race theory, gender ideology, and special treatment based on gender, race, or ethnicity. It also refers to content counter to "merit-based or color-blind policies," potentially impacting news items focusing on a service member's race or gender.

Impact on Celebrations: This directive means official resources cannot be used to host celebrations or events related to months like Black History Month, Women's History Month, Pride Month, etc. Instead, units are encouraged to celebrate "the valor and success of military heroes of all races, genders, and backgrounds" to "restore our warrior culture and ethos."


II. Core Principles and Ongoing Emphases in Army Social Media Policy:

Beyond the recent DEI changes, several foundational principles continue to guide Army social media use, both for official accounts and personal profiles:

Operational Security (OPSEC):

Protecting Sensitive Information: This is paramount. Soldiers are prohibited from disclosing classified information, operational details, unit movements, future plans, or any information that could compromise missions or personnel safety.

Geo-tagging and Location Sharing: This is a major concern. Soldiers are strongly cautioned against using geo-tagging or "check-in" features, as sharing location can be a significant security breach. It's often compared to giving out a 10-digit grid coordinate.

Sharing Photos/Videos: Be cautious about what's in the background of photos or videos. Avoid images of training, specific commanders, installations, or sensitive equipment.

Professionalism and Conduct:

Online Misconduct is Punishable: The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) applies to online behavior. This means online misconduct like libel, slander, harassment, bullying, hazing, stalking, discrimination, retaliation, or any other type of "cyber misconduct" is punishable.

Maintain a Professional Image: Soldiers are expected to behave lawfully, appropriately, and professionally, online and offline. Their online behavior reflects on the Army's image.

Respectful and Civil Behavior: Avoid offensive, inappropriate, or unbecoming content. Do not make contemptuous remarks against public officials (President, Vice President, Congress, Secretaries, etc.) – this is a UCMJ violation.

No Endorsements: Official positions or public office cannot be used for private gain, or to endorse non-federal entities, products, services, or enterprises. This includes using one's status, name, image, or likeness as a DoD employee or service member to imply endorsement.

Clear Distinction Between Official and Personal Accounts:

Personal Accounts Must Be Clearly Identifiable as Personal: Avoid using DoD titles, insignia, uniforms, or symbols on personal pages in a way that could imply DoD sanction or endorsement of the content.

No Official Information from Personal Accounts: Army leaders or personnel may not use personal social media accounts to release official DoD or Army information. Official announcements must come from official pages.

Disclaimers: If expressing personal views, especially on political or controversial topics, service members are often encouraged (and sometimes required) to add disclaimers stating that their opinions are their own and do not represent the military or DoD.

Wearing Uniform: Generally, service members are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activity while in uniform or on duty (including teleworking). This also extends to posting links, sharing, or retweeting content from political parties or partisan candidates' accounts.

Content Management and Transparency (for Official Accounts):

Approval Process: New official social media platforms must be reviewed and approved through official channels before use.

Transparency in Content Removal: If content is removed from official DoD or Army accounts, there should be a public acknowledgment as to why (e.g., factual error, policy violation, security concern). Removal should not be done to avoid embarrassment or stifle discussion.

Accuracy and Appropriateness: All official social media content must be accurate, appropriate for the platform, timely, and in the proper tone.

No Unauthorized Use of Funds: Only authorized Army assets (like recruiting commands) are permitted to use money on social media ads or boosting posts.

Training and Awareness:

The Army emphasizes ongoing training for service members at all levels, from new recruits to officers, on proper social media conduct and policies. This includes training on security risks and appropriate information sharing.

What You Need to Do:

Stay Informed: Policies can change. Regularly check official Army and DoD directives, handbooks, and guidance.

Exercise Caution: When in doubt, don't post. Assume anything you post online can become public and reflects on you and the Army.

Think Before You Post: Consider OPSEC, professionalism, and whether your post aligns with Army values.

Review Privacy Settings: Understand and utilize the privacy settings on your personal social media accounts, but remember that nothing is truly private online.

Report Misconduct: Know how to report online misconduct or potential security breaches.

The goal of these policies is to protect service members, safeguard national security, and maintain public trust in the U.S. Army. Adherence to these guidelines is a critical part of being a responsible Soldier in the digital age.