“UGLE have some concerns about specific postings recently raised with them and it would be helpful given the current highly volatile times we are experiencing to highlight the key points of our social media policy. Here is a list of behaviours and topics to avoid when posting on social media. These apply to personal accounts, as well as to accounts that individual Freemasons may manage on behalf of a Lodge, the Province, or other Masonic entity. They apply to any Freemason who has identified himself as a Freemason online, whether he is posting in Masonic or non-Masonic channels. This list is not comprehensive, but is intended to act as an introductory guide to topics or behaviours that are considered inappropriate for posting to any audience on social media.
When posting on social media platforms, a Freemason must not:
- produce, link to, or refer to any content that is illegal, defamatory, or likely to offend others
- cause or contribute to any hostile or unproductive arguments, or exercise any private piques or quarrels (that is to say, good-natured debate is fine, but one should be prepared to abandon the exchange if it ceases to be friendly)
- discuss or allude to any of the Masonic Signs, Tokens, or Words (see the Obligation of the First Degree)
- claim to speak for any Masonic body (e.g. a Lodge, a Province or District, a charity or committee, or UGLE) on whose behalf he is not expressly authorised to speak (for instance, membership of a Lodge in West Lancashire does not give one the authority to speak on behalf of West Lancashire Provincial Grand Lodge)
- identify anyone else as a Freemason without his explicit consent
- contain any personal information about any Freemason without his explicit consent, such as address, telephone number, or anything else covered by the Data Protection Act 2018:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents/enacted
- attempt to use Masonic channels as a vehicle for personal profit, or for any other form of self-promotion
- criticise UGLE or any other legitimate Masonic authority”