1 September 2026

Social media guidance for ITI members

Why we're issuing this guidance

Social media is a valuable space for members to connect, share professional views and engage with ITI's work. Like any professional body, we also see occasional criticism and disagreement play out publicly, and that's a normal part of representing a membership organisation. This guidance is not about shutting down debate or discouraging members from expressing views. It's here to help everyone - members, staff and board - engage on social media in a way that stays professional and constructive, even when people disagree.

However, minor mistakes such as a typo in a social media post or a slip in an email, don’t need a public callout to be resolved. If you spot something straightforward that can readily be fixed or improved, letting us know directly is more effective.

Who this applies to

This guidance applies to all ITI members when posting about ITI, its board, its staff or its activities, on any platform (LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, forums and similar), whether on a personal or professional account.

How this relates to the Code of Professional Conduct

This guidance supports the principles in our Code of Professional Conduct and is intended to encourage good practice online. It doesn’t create new grounds for disciplinary action, but conduct online can still amount to a breach of the Code in its own right - for example where it is dishonest, discriminatory, or damages the reputation of the profession - and would be considered under the Code’s existing procedures, just as it would in any other setting.

Guidelines

Contact us directly if it would help. Public criticism and debate are a normal part of being a membership body, and members don’t need our agreement, or to approach us privately, before expressing a view publicly. That said, contacting us directly is often the quickest way to get a concern resolved or clarified, particularly where more context would help, so please do get in touch if that would be useful.
Check your facts before posting. Incorrect claims about ITI, its finances, its decisions or its people can cause real harm and are hard to correct once shared. If you’re not sure, it’s worth checking with us before you post.
Scrutiny and constructive criticism are welcome. Members may openly challenge ITI’s decisions, positions or communications, and that can include naming a Board member, the Chair, the CEO or a staff member where the criticism concerns their actions or decisions in that role. The distinction we ask members to observe is between scrutiny of someone’s ITI role and abuse, harassment or personal attacks directed at them as an individual. The latter isn’t acceptable, whoever it's aimed at. Please also remember that Board members and other volunteers may express their own views on social media, which are not necessarily the view of the Institute.
Don’t share confidential or sensitive information. This includes anything shared with you as a member, volunteer or committee participant that hasn’t been made public.
Personal accounts are personal. If you mention your ITI membership or role on a personal account, it’s good practice to make clear that your views are your own and not ITI’s.

A note on tone

We recognise that people post in the heat of the moment, and that strong feelings about a decision or a policy are often genuine and valid. We’re not asking members not to feel strongly - only to express their views in a way that keeps the conversation useful, and doesn’t cross into personal or unfounded attacks on individuals.