Social Media Comment & Posting Policy

The Surfrider Foundation utilizes various social networking platforms to connect with and engage different audiences. We welcome the public’s respectful and constructive participation and comments on the Surfrider Foundation’s social media channels.

Comments posted by others are not statements by the Surfrider Foundation and do not imply that the Surfrider Foundation agrees with or accepts the content, opinions, or views expressed within any public comment. Our social media channels are governed by the following general rules of engagement to maintain a respectful and civil discourse.

The Surfrider Foundation, as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is nonpartisan and does not participate in electoral politics. This includes, but is not limited to not endorsing or opposing candidates for elective public office or political parties. Pursuant to Surfrider’s Bylaws, the Surfrider Foundation is a non-partisan organization that is open to all people who support Surfrider’s mission and care about the health and safety of our ocean, beaches, and waterways. We do not discriminate against views. However, in order to maintain a respectful discourse on Surfrider’s social media channels focused on Surfrider’s mission, Surfrider monitors user-generated content as it chooses and reserves the right to remove content for any reason whatsoever, without consent, including to safeguard against content that undermines Surfrider’s mission or creates a hostile atmosphere.

These are some of the rules we follow:

Stay on topic. We may remove content that is clearly off-topic and unrelated to Surfrider’s mission.
No Personal Attacks, Hate Speech, or Bullying. We will remove content that contains abusive, vulgar, offensive, racist, threatening, or harassing content, personal attacks of any kind, including libel or slander, profanity, offensive terms that target specific individuals or groups, or sexually explicit material.
No political comments. As a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, Surfrider does not endorse candidates or otherwise intervene in political campaigns. Comments by others are not statements by Surfrider and do not reflect Surfrider’s views. However, in order to maintain a respectful, nonpartisan environment, Surfrider asks that people not post political comments supporting or opposing candidates for elective office.
We may remove comments that give the appearance of legal, medical, or financial advice.
We will remove content that contains personal information (whether your own or someone else's), including but not limited to home address, home or cell phone number, and personal email address.
We may remove spam and content that promotes services or products. Gratuitous links to sites and repeat submissions of the same (or very similar) contributions are viewed as spam and may result in the content being removed.
Do not post anything that you do not have the right to post, including links to copyright and/or trademark-infringing material. We will remove comments that appear to include copyright or trademark infringing material (including but not limited to anything posted without the owner’s permission). Surfrider follows a notice and takedown procedure under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act for complaints of copyright violation.
Communications made through social media posts will in no way constitute a legal or official notice or comment to the Surfrider Foundation or any of its employees.
All comments posted to Surfrider’s social media platforms are available to the public, regardless of your privacy settings. Do not post anything you do not wish to broadcast to the general public.
Users who do not comply with these rules may be restricted, blocked, or otherwise removed from Surfrider’s social media channels.
Social media comments occur around the clock, and Surfrider’s ability to monitor all posts and comments on our social media channels is limited. Please understand that we may not see every comment right away, and will review and respond as necessary within a reasonable time frame.