Comment Guidelines

Before you set up your social media page, blog or website, understand that enabling your users to comment freely and publicly is at the heart of social media. Any time there is unmoderated public engagement, there is potential risk.

Please see “Best Practices for Managing Online Commentary” to better understand your responsibilities as channel manager, the potential impact on UB’s brand, and how to prepare for a Comment-enabled online presence.

Once you create your page/account, be sure to send University Communications (ubinfo@buffalo.edu) the following information. Once we hear from you, we’ll add you to our list of official channels.

• URL of your page/account
• Which UB department this site belong to
• Contact information for the site administrator (Name, email, contact number)
• Who will be managing the site day to day (Name, email, contact number)

Here are some recommendations for official UB social media channels:

• Be sure the account is managed/administered by a verifiable UB employee (faculty or staff), in an official UB school, department, division, research center, institute or lab
• Brand it as UB
  • Be sure the name you give your social media page/account reflects your affiliation with the University at Buffalo.
  • Remember: the acronym UB is shared by lots of other entities, so when possible spell out the full official university name (University at Buffalo) alongside the “UB” acronym.
  • Suggestions:
    • Include “UB” in the name of your page (e.g. @UBEngineering)
  • Include the full name of the university in your page/account profile (e.g. “This is the official page of the University at Buffalo’s (UB) School of Engineering & Applied Sciences.”)
• Be current
  • Update and add new content regularly 

Official UB web and social media page/accounts must include a link or reference to UB’s Comment Guidelines. Post (or link) to UB Comment Guidelines* in the appropriate location on your channel, as noted below.

• Shared Content: /content/shared/university/Comment_Guidelines
• Dedicated web page: /content/www/eub/CommentGuidelines
• Direct Link: https://www.buffalo.edu/commentguidelines.html

*These guidelines are relevant ONLY to UB channels that display fan, follower or reader comments. These guidelines are NOT necessary to post if your audience comments and feedback are not publicly visible.

Please Note:

Official UB web and social media pages/accounts MUST include a link or reference to UB’s Comment Guidelines. Official UB social media pages/accounts are eligible for inclusion in UB directories, other university-wide listings and social media sharing networks. They also may be liked or followed by UB’s institutional channels.

UB online publications, newsletters, blogs (etc.) that publish feedback, comments or letters to the editor from the public, should clearly describe their guidelines for reviewing, accepting, rejecting and publishing such commentary. Be sure to add a Comment Guideline reference to your online Comments forms, discussion areas, About pages or anywhere public comments or feedback are visible. Please use the following text as a guide for your statement.

Sample Letter-to-the-Editor statement 

<PUBLICATION/BLOG TITLE > welcomes letters, comments and feedback <SPECIFY AS NECESSARY: from public? members of the UB community?>—related to its stories and content.

While championing the right of free speech, the UB <publication/blog name> editor reviews letters, comments and feedback to ensure they are in line with UB’s Comment Guidelines and other policies.

By submitting letters, comments or feedback, you give UB permission to publish your feedback (in whole or in part) online or in print.

UB reserves the right not to publish letters, comments or feedback, letters or comments that:

• violate UB’s Comment Guidelines or other guidelines/policies
• reiterate or duplicate points the writer has made in previous posts, letters or feedback
• exceed reasonable length for the medium
• are Op-ed articles <if appropriate>
• are anonymous or posted under a pseudonym <if appropriate>

It is not the responsibility of UB to authenticate information presented in published letters, comments or feedback.

How to submit letters, comments or feedback

UB <publication/blog name> only accepts letters, comments and feedback that are:

• submitted by email to: <UB email address>  or
• Posted directly in the “comments” form at the end of an article or feature

Comments on articles and features should not exceed 125 <#> words; those needing more space to make their point should write a Letter to the Editor, rather than posting multiple comments.

Letters to the <publication/blog name> Editor should be succinct and should not exceed 800 <#> words.

Add a reference/link to UB Comment Guidelines to the “About” tab by following these steps:

• Go to your Facebook Page as an admin > About > Page Info > General Info > Edit
• Add “Recommended Text”

Suggested Text

UB COMMENT GUIDELINES

UB loves hearing from you and we welcome and encourage open, thoughtful discussion. We apply UB Comment Guidelines to help our readers share their thoughts in safe and engaging digital spaces. You can find those guidelines here: https://buffalo.edu/commentguidelines.html

X profiles have very limited space. If space allows, add a link/reference to UB Comment Guidelines on your official UB X account profile:

• Go to your X account > View your account icon > View Profile > Edit Profile > paste “Suggested Text” (below)
• If space does not permit, be sure your website includes a visible link to UB Comment Guidelines.

Suggested Text

#UBuffalo welcomes the open exchange of thought-provoking ideas & opinions! For house rules: buffalo.edu/commentguidelines

On your official UB Instagram profile, add a reference & link to UB Comment Guidelines

• Go to your Instagram account > Click on your main account page (bottom right: Head icon)  
• Click Edit Profile  > add “Recommended Text” in Info field

Suggested Text

#UBuffalo’s official Instagram. Keep your #HornsUp. It's #Good2BeBlue! UB welcomes the open exchange of ideas & opinions! For house rules: buffalo.edu/commentguidelines

On your official UB Pinterest profile, add a reference & link to UB Comment Guidelines

• Go to your unit's Pinterest account > Click on your account name (top right) > Edit Profile  > About You

Suggested Text

University at Buffalo (UB)'s official Pinterest page. #UBuffalo welcomes the open exchange of ideas &  opinions! For house rules:  buffalo.edu/commentguidelines

Add a reference to UB Comment Guidelines to the “Profile” on your LinkedIn COMPANY page by following these steps:

• Go to your LinkedIn Company page > Edit > Edit page > Company Description. . .
• Add “Suggested Text” to Company Description > Publish

Suggested Text

Same as Facebook

Add a reference/link to UB Comment Guidelines in the “About” tab on any official UB Youtube page

• Go to your Youtube page as an admin > My Channel > About > Description
• Edit your Channel Description to include a reference to UB’s Comment Guidelines (see Recommended Text)

Suggested Text

Same as Facebook

• Shared Content: /content/shared/university/Comment_Guidelines
• Dedicated Web Page: /content/www/eub/CommentGuidelines

• Direct Link: https://www.buffalo.edu/commentguidelines.html

For UB Internal Use Only