-
Memorial Day And Social Media
May 17, 2022
-
With Memorial Day upon us, it's a day set aside to commemorate all men and women who have died in the U.S. military.
In 1942, as millions volunteered or were drafted for military duty, communication guidelines were given to soldiers and their families about the dangers of how unintended information could be leaked to the enemy during World War II:
And 80 years later, that message is even more important with today's technology.
There are challenges for every operation expected to operate in this open and connected world. But Jack Holt, who once served as Senior Strategist of Emerging Media for the Department of Defense looked at social this way:
"If we can train soldiers to operate technical equipment and navigate the battlefield, we can also effectively train soldiers in the proper use and appropriate social media behavior."
And I concur.
Share this with your teams, and where it feels right, even clients. Much of this may feel like common sense, but as we see every day in the social space, it's not common practice.
Here Are A Few Tips For Protecting Your Image
DO
Understand the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
While both days are observances to honor those who have served in the military, Memorial Day is a day for honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, Veterans Day is set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served in the military (wartime or peacetime).
DON’T
Wish “Happy Memorial Day!” Memorial Day is a day of remembrance.
DO
Show respect. Examples:
“This Memorial Day, and every day, we honor the sacrifices many have made to help protect our freedom.”
“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” Elmer Davis
“Remembering the men & women who have given their lives in service to our country.”
DON’T
Make social media posts about your brand or use this day to sell your products/services. Mixing brands with military sacrifices is inappropriate.
DO
Engage. When we're not where the audience is - we're giving them permission to form new loyalties elsewhere. That includes not acknowledging them socially - they'll find someone who will.
DON’T
Stray from the voice, value, and tone of the brand.
The social space is fluid. We should always be learning.
But if you're having trouble getting everyone on the same page, it's likely there is either a training problem or a hiring problem (or maybe both) - but social media is certainly not the problem.
Have a safe weekend and take time to honor those who have served and continue to serve.
Reach out to me anytime on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter.
Please enjoy MERGE archives here.