Social Media Security Information for Candidates
Updated 17 April 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/security-guidance-for-may-2021-elections/social-media-security-information-for-candidates
Most social media companies provide advice about online security. This includes guidance on how to secure your account and how to report incidents of online abuse, harassment and intimidation.
1. Meta
Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp) provides:
- Guidance for political candidates
- General guidance on online safety
- Specific guidance on reporting abusive content or behaviour
- How to verify your account
2. X
X provides:
- General guidance on online safety
- Civic integrity policies
- Quick links to safety and security guidance
- Guidance on how to report offensive content and abuse
- How to verify your account
3. Google
Google (which owns Youtube) provides:
- General guidance on actions to take to protect candidates
- Specific guidance from YouTube about support for civic integrity
- Guidance on how to report inappropriate content
4. TikTok
- Policy on Election Integrity
- Community Guidelines on Integrity and Authenticity
- TikTok’s Safety Centre
- Safety and Privacy Tools
- Direct Reporting Function
- How to verify your account
5. Note
Please note that social media platforms regularly review and update their guidance.