Introduction
The Guelph Storm Hockey Club social media platforms are a provided opportunity to unite the Storm community – from fans, partners, players, the team’s families, and beyond. The organization recognizes and appreciates the value of these platforms and the importance of utilizing social media to unite as one team for all who hold a passion for the Guelph Storm. The Guelph Storm Hockey Club welcomes the privilege for those interested in the organization’s work both on and off the ice to post, share, discuss, and engage with the team on its social media channels while ensuring respect to all maintained and is of top priority.
The organization holds a zero-tolerance policy for offensive and discriminatory language and content. The organization’s social media platforms hold the same standard of respect and behaviour as expected and required of attending Guelph Storm games. If an individual(s) violates any of the organization’s guidelines, it will result in comments being removed and/or the individual(s) account being banned from continued participation and engagement with Guelph Storm social media platforms. The organization reserves the right to limit and manage comments, content, and direct messages at all times as the official accounts are the property of and operated by the Guelph Storm Hockey Club.
The purpose of the Social Media Policy and Guidelines is to provide and ensure a safe environment for all to be welcome and a proud member of the Guelph Storm community. The Social Media Policy and Guidelines ensure the safety of fans, partners, current and former players, the families of those within the organization, team staff, and OHL officials from illegal, unauthorized, irresponsible, harmful, or abusive behaviour and use of social media. This policy includes but is not limited to internet mediums and websites owned and operated by Guelph Storm Hockey Club, such as X (Formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and any other social media network that allows users to communicate online.
Guidelines
The Guelph Storm Hockey Club will not tolerate content, posts, and/or comments that:
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Are offensive to an individual (including fellow fans, current and former players, hockey operations staff, front office, and OHL Officials), the organization, or are abusive, aggressive, violent, profane (including inappropriate language), hateful or defamatory, and/or disrespectful
- Promote, foster, or perpetuate any form of discrimination
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Contain content or language of sexual nature or links to such content
- Content aimed at soliciting business
- Invade privacy
- Misinformation
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Do not add to the flow of conversation
- Deemed to be cyber-bullying
Plagiarism and Intellectual Property
What is Social Media Plagiarism?
- Social media plagiarism is when someone takes original content and claims it as their own. This is considered to be theft of intellectual property work that is the result of creativity, such as writing or a design, to which one has rights, this would include written work, graphics assets, photos, and videos as it pertains to social media.
Reposting without Permission
- Sharing social media content as your own, without explicit permission from the original creator, is considered plagiarism. This includes but is not limited to written work, graphic assets, photos, and videos. All content created by the Guelph Storm Hockey Club is protected under copyright policies of each social platform, with that, the organization reserves the right to report all posts not following the guidelines in place. This may result in posts being removed or accounts being suspended, the outcome is at the discretion of the social media platform.
Summary
The Guelph Storm Hockey Club is not responsible for any use of Guelph Storm content or materials by other users. The Guelph Storm Hockey Club reserves the right to ask users to refrain from posting inappropriate comments, or mute, block, and/or ban users for violating the organization’s Social Media Policy and Guidelines. The Guelph Storm Hockey Club has a zero-tolerance policy on racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, abuse, or discrimination of any kind.