There are numerous legal considerations that are part and parcel of a good real estate brokerage social media policy. Consider FTC social media guidelines, state licensing law, copyright issues, trademarks, and fair housing.

1. Social Media Risk Management – Part 2 2:30 pm PST Keep up to date and stay legal online! Frances Flynn Thorsen RealEstateSocialMediaPolicies.com

2. Frances Flynn Thorsen

3. Social Media Risk Management – Part 3 Soon! Don’t spend time as if social media is video game! Frances Flynn Thorsen RealEstateSocialMediaPolicies.com

5. Plan

6. Who is accountable? Brokers Managers Independent contractors Employees

7. Comprehensive Social Media Policy Social communities Video site policies relating to properties Software Messaging Reputation Management

8. Federal Law Puts Brokers At Risk Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP). Amended rules govern the discovery of electronically stored information (ESI), which refers to e-mail and other data that can be stored electronically. The rules apply to existing technology as well as future advances in technology. ESI e-mail messages and attachments IM chat, text messages, blog posts history of Web surfing backup tapes, voice mail, and all other forms of created, acquired, retained, and archived data- is subject to discovery in civil lawsuits. Because this leaves A real estate brokerage is liable for discovery of all ESI of their Employees/Independent Contractors as well as their Employees.

9. Groups and Business Pages Company names Trademarks Association names Who is starting groups in your name?

11. Photos

12. Maps

13. Videos

17. Personal Web Sites & Blogs

18. New FTC Social Media Guidelines Disclosure! Disclosure! Disclosure!

19. What FTC Looking For? Are you paid for endorsement? Testimonials verifiable? Target-rich environment.

20. “Would I retain this information if it were in writing?” First of all your agents need to know what conversations to have in public and when to go into a booth or private area! Cell phones, text messages, blackberries, whether provided by company or not are admissible in court! What photos are you taking? What are you uploading to social sites? Do you have a signature block on your phone for text and email? Email confidentiality….very important. Are you forwarding this whole thing? Should this message/text/photo be saved?

23. Fair Housing