Virtual programming multiples the ways adult volunteers and staff may be interacting with youth both during and outside of programming. Here is a summary of adults’ responsibilities with links to the full polices:

Posting Photos Online: Adults are required to follow the photo permissions policy. Adults may not post on personal social media. Without photo permissions, photos can only be shared within event covenantal spaces. Photos can only be posted on official accounts with appropriate photo permissions.

Communication: When communicating electronically with youth, adults must include a second adult on the message or communication. If a youth contacts an adult one-on-one, the adult must redirect the conversation to add a second adult to the communication and/or redirect the conversation to the appropriate platform.

Social media presence: Adult volunteers and staff are expected to stay in “adult role” on any social media platform in which their posts are visible to youth. This means posts are appropriate for youth to view and are not sexualized, discriminatory, harassing, or otherwise contrary to the rules and philosophy of this policy and UU values.

Connection outside of programs: Youth may find adult staff and volunteers on social media and choose to engage such as requesting to be a friend on Facebook. Adults should not initiate such contact. Adults must not accept friend requests from youth on platforms that allow disappearing messages (like Snapchat). Interaction with youth must happen in ways that are viewable by others rather than in one-to-one private messages. Parent/guardians and religious professionals should be informed. This could be as simple as on Facebook posting on a youth’s wall after they friend you and asking to be introduced to their parents. Adults attending UUA youth focused programs agree to this when they sign the Adult Code of Conduct