Social Media Guidelines

Social Media Guidelines

The social media sites linked to the SUNY Delhi homepage are produced and maintained by SUNY Delhi’s Office of Marketing & Enrollment Management. Links to content or other internet sites in our social media posts should not be construed as an endorsement for the organizations, entities, views or content contained therein. The college is not responsible for the content of those external web sites. 

Commenting and Posting on SUNY Delhi’s Pages

SUNY Delhi appreciates hearing from people via comments, questions, posts, and responses on social media. The Office of Marketing & Enrollment Management regularly reviews comments and content posted to our social media sites by the public, and the college reserves the right to remove any content for any reason from our social media sites. In an effort to create and maintain a welcoming and beneficial environment for everyone, we request that participants post comments and content that are relevant to the conversation and respectful to both the campus community and our online community.

Comments or content posted by outside participants must comply with the rules in this agreement. The views expressed in reader-posted comments do not necessarily represent the opinions of SUNY Delhi or its representatives. In making the comment feature available, SUNY Delhi reserves the right to not publish or to remove comments and/or limit those comments and commentators that do not adhere to the policies outlined in this agreement and/or create a risk of potential liability. Prohibited comments include, but are not limited to, those which present material which reasonably may be viewed as: 

• Profane, libelous, slanderous, obscene or otherwise inappropriate language
• Racist, sexist, obscene, inciting violence, discriminatory, and/or abusive content
• Impersonation and/or disclosure of private information about others
• Copyrighted materials or intellectual property of others used without permission
• Advertisements for products/businesses, commercials, or other spam/promotional content for things not affiliated with SUNY Delhi
• Comments not relevant to the conversation topic

By submitting content to any of the college social media sites, or tagging SUNY Delhi’s official social media profiles in content, participants understand and acknowledge that this information is available to the public and that the college may use this information for internal and external promotional purposes. Participants who comment or post to the college’s social media sites assume responsibility for all material posted and will defend and indemnify the university from any claims that may arise from the posting. It should be noted that other participants may share or use any posted content or information beyond the control of SUNY Delhi.

Social Media Accessibility

SUNY Delhi is committed to ensuring that all students, employees, and community members can access the information we share online.

Official SUNY Delhi social media accounts should publish content with accessibility in mind. Whenever platforms provide accessibility tools — such as captions, alternative text, or formatting options — these features should be used and reviewed for accuracy.

Beginning April 24, 2026, updated digital accessibility requirements under ADA Title II will require public institutions to follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA for web content and mobile applications. Social media content should align with these standards whenever platform capabilities allow. If a platform limits accessibility options, provide an alternative accessible format when necessary (such as a text version, transcript, captions, or a link to an accessible webpage).

General Guidelines

Create social media content that is as accessible as each platform allows. Use built-in accessibility tools when available and review auto-generated features (such as captions or descriptions) to ensure they are accurate and meaningful.

Images and Graphics

(including text-based graphics, flyers, and infographics)

• Add alternative text (alt text) to all informational images. Alternative text is a written description of a photo image that helps screen reading tools explain the image to visually impaired readers. When writing an alternative text it is best to succinctly describe the image, end the description with a period, and exclude writing “Image of…” 

• If a platform automatically generates an image description, review and edit it to ensure it accurately reflects the image and its context.

• Images that contain text (such as flyers, event graphics, or infographics) still require a text alternative. Provide the key information in accessible form through alt text and/or accompanying post text.

• Use alt text for a concise summary of the visual content.

• For complex graphics or infographics with extensive text, include a longer “Text version:” in the post caption or link to an accessible webpage containing the full information.

• If alt text has already been added using the platform’s alt text feature, do not duplicate it word-for-word in the post text. Only include an additional text version when the content is complex or when the platform does not reliably support alt text.

Video

• All videos should include captions. Captions improve accessibility for individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing, viewers watching without sound, and non-native English speakers.

• Captions may be closed captions (viewer-controlled) or open captions embedded in the video.

• If using automated captions, review and edit them for accuracy—especially names, technical terminology, and campus locations.

• If important information appears visually on screen but is not spoken (such as steps, charts, or text), include that information in narration or captions so it is accessible to all viewers.

Animated GIFs

• Use emojis sparingly. When possible, place them at the end of sentences or posts rather than within the middle of text. Screen readers read emoji descriptions aloud, which can interrupt the flow of content.

• Avoid excessive use of emoticons (such as :-) or ;)), as they may be read as individual characters.

Emojis

Similar to how alternative text descriptions operate, screen readers describe emojis included in posts. For example, this emoji    ☺️ would be read as “smiling face.” With this understanding, do not use try to create an emoji through symbols or use emojis in place of words. Do not rely on emojis to convey messages; use them as supplement to a message when appropriate. 

Hashtags

When writing a hashtag that includes multiple words, use CamelCase (which consists of capitalizing the first letter of each word). #WritingHashtagsInThisWay not only helps users of screen readers, but is also easier for all users to read.

Links and Documents

Do not share critical information solely through images of flyers or inaccessible PDFs. Provide the information in accessible text or link to an accessible webpage containing the content.

Color and Contrast

Do not rely on color alone to communicate meaning. Ensure that graphics include adequate color contrast and remain readable for all users.

Flashing and Rapid Motion

Avoid rapidly flashing animations or content that may trigger discomfort or seizures.

Accessibility Features by Platform

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X
• TikTok
• YouTube
• LinkedIn 

Social Media for Official SUNY Delhi Units and Organizations

All social media accounts with SUNY Delhi branding must be registered with and authorized by the Office of Marketing and Communications. All units are required to fill out the social media account request form to request or register a SUNY Delhi branded account. If you participate in social media activities as part of your job, or on behalf of a campus department/organization/unit on an account created for SUNY Delhi with SUNY Delhi branding, that account is considered SUNY Delhi property.

To promote the successful use of social media by SUNY Delhi departments, units, or organizations, we have developed (and will continue to update and distribute) ongoing social media recommendations and procedures. These include common best practices and advice for posting in social media communities. Please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications to receive a copy of the recommendations and procedures.

For questions related to social media at SUNY Delhi, please contact the Office of Marketing & Enrollment Management at communications@delhi.edu or 607-746-4870.

Request Social Media Account