IARA County/Local Records Management - Social Media & Records Management

Good morning Clerks and staff,

This week IARA would like to share some quick tips on records management and social media – one of the hardest records management topics there is! Below is a quick start to retaining social media as a record, but please also find attached a longer guide with more “how to's” and details. If you have any questions about social media and records management please get in touch at erecords@iara.in.gov.  

Social media posts are considered records when: 

1. The content of the post falls under Oversight Committee on Public Records approved record retention schedules. 
2. The content of the post is unique (i.e. does not exist elsewhere). 
3. The content is posted via an official agency account OR is posted via any account with the purpose of distributing agency information to the public. 

Social media posts may fall under record retention schedules pertaining but not limited to: 

• Correspondence 
• Disaster notification and response 
• Events, programs, products and services 
• Photographs and videos 
• Press releases 
• Surveys 
• Training and education 

When it comes to retaining social media posts (including media and comments) as records you have four options: 

1. Save the content outside of the social media platform.  
2. Screenshot content.  
3. Manually download content using the platform’s download capabilities. 
4. Work with a third party vendor to retain your posts. 

Please also remember to familiarize yourself with the IN.gov Governance Council Social Media Guidelines. 

Of course, if you have any questions, let us know. Happy November!

AMY CHRISTIANSEN JANICKI

Records Management Liaison

Indiana Archives and Records Administration

o: 812-929-3882

e: achristiansenjanicki@iara.in.gov |

w: www.in.gov/iara

a: 402 W Washington St, Room W472, Indianapolis, IN 46204