(2/20) Social media has proved a useful resource for many local municipalities in recent years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic which prevented much in-person interaction. However, social media has also presented challenges as many towns have dealt with harmful speech and commentary. Thurmont hopes to solve this by implementing new guidelines for its social media channels, namely Facebook.

"Stability is the biggest issue," said Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick at the Feb. 14 town meeting. "We’re here to provide information to citizens and I think it’s gotten away from that unfortunately."

According to Humerick, both town officials and residents have been continuously "bullied" and "ridiculed" in the comments of the town’s Facebook posts. While the town is committed to maintaining first amendment rights, they are also aware of the consequences that an unlimited virtual forum can cause.

Due to first amendment implications of this policy, the town has conducted extensive legal research in order to define guidelines. Town Attorney Leslie Powell described the new policy as allowing the town authority to remove public speech containing obscenities, discrimination, sexual content, illegal activity, and threats to health and safety. Before removing comments, however, administrators of the Facebook page would be obligated to record them through screenshots.

Said Powell, "This is not intended to prevent people from communicating or exercising their first amendment rights to petition the government--just not in that forum."

Commissioners also discussed the possibility of disallowing public comments on social media entirely, which would eliminate the need for continuous "policing" of the Facebook page by town staff.

In any case, discussion surrounding potential codified social media policy highlights what Mayor Kinnaird describes as the loss of "the personal touch of looking someone in the face and talking to them." Commissioner Wes Hamrick echoed Kinnaird’s sentiments, advising that "when you craft any type of message, write as though you don’t want to embarrass your own mother."

"I want my Facebook page to be something that my grandchildren can read," said the Mayor. "That’s no longer the standard that other people follow, so we have to be the ones to set that standard and adhere to it."

Before the social media policy is passed, residents will be invited to voice their opinions at a future public hearing.