Moderation Policy

Orchid uses Facebook to highlight information about the charity, fundraising, events and news updates.

Facebook content delivered by Orchid may include but is not limited to:

• links to news releases, blog posts, videos, guidance and other approved, publicly available Orchid material
• links to relevant information produced and published elsewhere (work of other organisations, patient organisations, researchers, news organisations and others). This can include videos, blog posts, and comments related to Orchid’s work
• interesting facts, quotes or observations related to our work
• topical questions related to our work intended to provoke discussion
• charitable fundraising events and individual fundraisers.

Orchid encourages comments and intelligent discussion on our Facebook page. When posting comments, please review and adhere to the moderation policy. Comments categorised under the following will be deleted:

• Abusive, off-topic or containing profanity or foul language
• Including ad hominem attacks against public or private figures
• Containing disparaging remarks or threats against countries, ethnicities or other groups of people
• Containing racist, sexist or homophobic language or other slurs
• Advertising and/or soliciting links for personal blogs and websites
• Spam (posting the same comment over and over)
• Deliberately provoking other commentators or Orchid staff

Posting comments that repeatedly violate the moderation policy may result in your account being banned from the page.

If you find comments that may violate the moderation policy, you may report it to the moderators by clicking the ‘X’ in the top right of the comment box and clicking ‘Report as Abuse.’

We strive to make our Facebook page a positive environment and reserve the right to update the moderation policy as needed. We value your opinion. Thank you for contributing to healthy discussion.

Orchid uses Twitter, a free messaging service offered by a third party, as one tool in its efforts to communicate clearly, quickly and in an engaging manner to people interested in our work. You can follow us @orchidcancer

Twitter content delivered by Orchid includes (but is not limited to):

• links to news releases, blog posts, videos, guidance and other approved, publicly available Orchid material
• links to relevant information produced and published elsewhere (work of other organisations, patient organisations, researchers, news organisations and others). This can include videos, blog posts, and retweets (RTs) from other Twitter users. (See below for our policy on RTs.)
• interesting facts, quotes or observations related to our work
• topical questions related to our work intended to provoke discussion

Tweets we repeat (RT) do not imply endorsement on the part of Orchid. We may retweet news, links and personal observations we believe are relevant to the work we do.

Tweets should not be considered as the authoritative source of new policy or guidance from Orchid. Any change or evolution in Orchid’s official position on legislation, guidance, investigations and audits will be communicated through more traditional channels: official publications and statements on our website, speeches, and media releases.

Importantly, our decision to RT should not be taken as explicit endorsement of any position or argument that may vary from Orchid’s current official position, nor should it be taken as an indication of a possible shift in the current official position.

Orchid’s decision to follow a particular Twitter user does not imply endorsement of any kind. We follow accounts on Twitter we believe are relevant to our work. This could include following the Twitter accounts of other charities and medical reference sites (and/or their employees) who comment on Orchid related issues.

We commit to updating and monitoring our Twitter account during regular office hours: 09:00 – 17:30 GMT. However, like many Twitter users, we may monitor and respond at other times of the day. We accept no responsibility for lack of service due to Twitter downtime.

We encourage you to follow traditional channels to make a media request or complaint.

Some Orchid staff tweet under their own names or pseudonyms. Despite their professional affiliation with Orchid, their tweets do not represent the official position of Orchid and should be considered the product of each individual as a private citizen.

If you have questions about this policy, please contact admin@orchid-cancer.org.uk.