Expressing concern over repeated cases of social media posts by State government employees which led to controversies and embarrassment for the administration and law enforcing agencies, Bihar government has issued new social media guidelines for government employees making clear how they should act on social media platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Telegrams and others.
The real price of “free” social media
The Cabinet meeting held on Thursday (January 29, 2026) which approved the State government’s decision to issue the guidelines in view of the careless of provocative posts by government employees which were said be damaging the image of the government. The new social media guidelines will be applied to all government officers from senior to lower-level employees. “The basic motto is not to ban use of social media but to ensure discipline, responsibility and dignity in the digital space”, said a senior government employee set to retire from services in December this year, on the condition of anonymity.
Under the new guidelines, the government employees will need prior permission from their department authority before opening a social media account, he added while adding, “anonymous or fake accounts will not be allowed at any cost”.
“The government employees cannot use their official designation, government logo or, any symbol linked to their post while posting personal content online. They cannot use official email IDs or government phone numbers for running personal social media accounts…the idea is to make a bar between a person’s private views from the government’s official position”, the officer said.
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The new guidelines also make clear limits on what kind of content government employees can post or share, he added. “The officials are barred from posting material that is considered obscene, abusive, inflammatory or capable of disturbing social and communal harmony. Content that targets any cate, religion, community or individual is strictly prohibited”, he added further. “The government employees have also been warned in the new guidelines against sharing pictures or videos from official meetings, government programmes or offices, especially when the material is sensitive of confidential”, the government official said.
Government employees are expected to maintain “political neutrality” while avoiding public criticism of government policies, decisions or senior officials on social media platforms, said the new social media guidelines for government employees. “Any violation of these guidelines can lead to departmental inquiry, punishment and other service related consequences”, he asserted.
“In recent times, it was seen that there were repeated cases where social media posts by government employees led to controversies and caused embarrassment for the government”, he said. “Social media, off late, has become a powerful and instant medium where one post can spread rapidly and create confusion or misinformation. The government feels that careless or provocative posts by government employees can damage the image of the government and affect its public trust”, he added.
However, the crtitics of the new social media guidelines by the government argued that it “may discourage employees from raising genuine issues or concerns even in a constructive manner”. “The government employees who themselves feel under constraint all the time, now would be afraid of the punishment in services by such new social media guidelines.
It will not enhance the working condition or efficiency in service of the employees as social media today has become a reality of life to ease the working conditions and make it more people’s friendly through its easy access and instant impact”, a retired State government employee from State secretariat, S.P. Sharma said. Mr. Sharma, admitted, he started using social media after his retirement from services last year.
