Social Media Policy

I.         Purpose
II.       Policy
                     A.      Identifying Yourself
                     B.      Sharing Content
                     C.      Content Creation Utilizing AI
                     D.      Appropriate Online Disclosure
III.     Special Considerations
                     A.      Retaining GM Business Records and Social Media Content
                     B.      Personal References on Social Media Sites
                     C.      Responding to Negative Content You May See About GM
                     D.      Internal Social Media
                     E.      Opening Social Media Channels on Behalf of GM
                     F.      Conduct Not Prohibited by this Policy
                     G.      Interaction with Collective Bergaining Agreements

I.      Purpose

Social media is constantly changing how we connect with our world and we recognize it provides unique opportunities to discuss and share information.  We want to empower employees to participate in building GM’s brands and sharing our vision.  However, inappropriate use of social media can pose risks to GM’s confidential and proprietary information, reputation, and brands; expose the company and individuals to potential legal claims; and jeopardize compliance with business and ethical rules and laws. 

This policy is intended to provide clear and straightforward guidelines and recommendations for using social media responsibly and safely.  All GM employees are responsible for reviewing, understanding and complying with this policy.  To help protect yourself and the company, if you have questions or are unsure whether a post may violate this or other GM policies, please contact the GM Global Social Media Center of Expertise (GM Social COE) at SocialCOE@gm.com.

This policy supplements and should always be read in conjunction with GM’s Values and Behaviors, Code of Conduct, Workplace Environment, and other applicable policies.  Failure to follow these policies may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination (where applicable, for cause).  Non-GM employees such as consultants, agents, sales representatives, independent contractors, and contract workers (collectively, “GM Representatives”) should refer to GM’s Supplier Code of Conduct to guide them in their activities as it relates to their work on behalf of GM. 

What is “Social Media”?

For purposes of this policy, social media means any website and/or app that allows you to create, share, and engage with content.  This includes not only traditional social networking apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn, but also any news, review, or other digital platform where you can share and engage with content.  Examples could include forums like Car and Driver, Reddit, or any news article that has open comment sections on it where someone could talk about GM publicly. It also includes the use of internal tools, such as Slack and Sharefluence.  

 

II.      Policy

A.      Identifiying Yourself


At GM, we are committed to fair and honest advertising.  While we encourage employees to share their excitement about our products and services, it’s important to recognize that we’re not impartial consumers.  In addition, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission places certain restrictions on endorsements and testimonials by employees about their company’s products and services.  

For these reasons, posting reviews of GM physical or digital products and services on Social Media is not appropriate. 

ACTION: Do not submit consumer reviews for GM products or competitive products (cars.com, Edmunds, etc.).

In addition, when talking online about the auto industry or GM, you must disclose in every post that you work for GM.   

ACTION: Appropriately disclose your relationship with GM in all social media posts about GM or the auto industry.

Including the #IWorkForGM or the #IWorkWithGM hashtags in your content is a quick and easy way to provide appropriate disclosure.  Note that even when you disclose your relationship to GM, the other rules and guidance in this policy still apply.  Use good judgment about what you post and remember that anything you say can reflect on and impact GM, even with a disclaimer.  

If you are or work for an agency, vendor, partner, or similar third party who has connections to GM and are discussing GM or the auto industry online, it is equally important that you properly disclose your connection to GM (such as by use of #IWorkWithGM).

GM also requires Social Media influencers, creators, and bloggers who may be provided with vehicles; hosted at events; or paid for their services, to disclose any association they have with GM to their audience when posting anything about GM or its products or services. 

All Social Media influencers, creators and bloggers MUST comply with all FTC disclosure guidelines (latest guidelines HERE).

ACTION: Any employee who is responsible for creating content on behalf of a GM brand on Social Media must ensure that appropriate guidelines are provided to the influencer, creator or blogger and, at a minimum, this policy is followed. In addition, they must ensure mechanisms are in place to monitor compliance by suppliers, paid influencers, and bloggers. 

ACTION: Any GM employee who serves as a paid social media influencer for non-GM entities should review and comply with the disclosure requirements in GM’s Conflict of Interest Policy.

Finally, do not claim or imply that you are speaking for GM on social media unless it’s part of your job duties for GM or approved by GM Communications.  Only those officially designated by GM have the authority to speak on behalf of the company.    

ACTION: Unless you have received permission from GM Communications, your social posting should always be clear that it is from your perspective and reflects your individual opinion.

Unless pre-approved by GM Communications, you must not use statements like “General Motors believes…”, “Chevrolet is proud…”, etc. If you become aware of something on social media and think that an official GM response may be required, contact the GM Social Media Center of Expertise at SocialCOE@gm.com.  If a member of the media reaches out to you for a comment on behalf of GM, do not reply. Instead, please contact SocialCOE@gm.com.

B.      Sharing Content


When sharing content on social media, it is important that you keep GM trade secrets and confidential information private, as outlined in GM’s Acceptable Use Guide to Protecting GM Information and Resources.  Trade secrets may include information regarding systems development, processes, products, knowledge, and technology.  Do not post to social media internal reports, policies, procedures, other internal, business-related, confidential communications; summaries or discussions or any of these items; or other content that may jeopardize or unintentionally disclose this information.

In some GM facilities and locations, photography is prohibited.  When taking photos in GM locations where photography is permitted, you must be sure not to disclose competitively significant or other confidential information.

ACTION: If you are posting photos, ensure that images or words in the background do not reveal GM Confidential Information – even unintentionally (for example, a team photo with a visible launch calendar in the background). When using GM websites or posting about GM’s products or services, make sure you do not post content without first getting all necessary permissions which could include reaching out to your direct leader or HR partner.  

In addition, be sure your online postings about GM or its products or services are accurate and not misleading, and are reflective of information that has been released publicly by GM.  Be accurate in your communications about the Company and its products and services, and remember that your statements could have consequences for you or GM.  Avoid spreading rumors or speculating about future GM products or announcements. 

Remember that what you do on social media, such as “liking,” “commenting,” and “checking-in” (i.e., establishing a geolocation using GPS to place yourself on social networks) may be visible to others online, including those outside of your immediate friend or follower network, and may inadvertently reveal or appear to reveal confidential information (i.e., “liking” a post containing a rumored future release could imply the rumor is true).  Keep in mind that what you do online could potentially reveal information that could be harmful to GM if made public.

ACTION: You are personally responsible for your words and actions, so use good judgment.

ACTION: Use Sharefluence for pre-approved social media content to distribute to your friends and connections.

ACTION: Keep in mind that representatives from GM Communications and GM Legal are available to assist with any questions. If you are unsure whether the information in your post would violate this policy, DO NOT SHARE IT. Ask for review by emailing the GM Social Media Center of Expertise at SocialCOE@gm.com.

C.      Content Creation Utilizing AI

Employees may use AI tools to support content creation, but AI must not introduce risk to GM, our brands, or our people. When using AI to support social media content related to General Motors:

ACTION: AI disclosure, including the tool used, is required when content could be perceived as human-generated or original. Employees must not mislead audiences about the origin of content.

ACTION: No sensitive data. Employees must not input confidential, proprietary, or non-public GM information into public AI systems (please reference for all approved AI tools here: https://ai.gm.com).

ACTION: Employee responsibility. AI can assist, but employees are accountable for all published content and must review outputs for accuracy, ethics, and legal compliance.

ACTION: No copyright or trademark violations. Employees must not use AI to generate or manipulate content that includes copyrighted material, trademarks, logos, or assets they do not have rights to use, including GM-owned Intellectual Property (IP) and third-party Intellectual Property (IP)  (music, movies, celebrities, etc.).

ACTION: No deepfakes or synthetic misrepresentation. AI must not be used to impersonate real people (including GM executives, employees, customers, or partners) or create misleading or harmful synthetic content.

ACTION: Brand integrity applies. AI-generated content must follow GM brand standards, visual guidelines, and our global Code of Conduct.

ACTION: Human review required. AI guidance must be reviewed by the employee before posting to prevent errors, misinformation, harmful bias, or unsafe claims.

ACTION: Legal and policy compliance. All AI usage must comply with applicable copyright law, privacy regulations, and FTC guidelines for deceptive content.

ACTION: Privacy.  Any content that could link GM to an individual’s private information or portray GM as endorsing negative, harmful, or misleading content is strictly prohibited. Employees should review their posts carefully before publishing to ensure they do not inadvertently reveal personal information or create risk for themselves or the company. 

AI usage must comply with all applicable local laws and regulations in the region where content is created, posted, or accessed. When local laws differ from this policy, employees must follow the stricter standard. Employees are responsible for understanding local legal and cultural requirements related to AI-generated content in their market and seeking guidance from GM Legal or HR when needed.

For more information on GM policies and resources for AI, please visit https://ai.gm.com.

D.      Appropriate Online Discourse

Remember that your Social Media activity— including activity on your personal accounts, personal devices, and content posted outside of work hours—can be seen by customers, colleagues, supervisors, suppliers, competitors, and the public, and could be linked to GM and impact GM’s work environment or business interests.

To protect yourself and GM:

• Always be fair, respectful, and courteous to coworkers, customers, suppliers, and others connected to GM consistent with the company’s expectations as set forth in GM’s Code of Conduct, anti-harassment policies, and other relevant policies.
• Do not post content (including comments, images, video, audio, and other material) that could reasonably be viewed as malicious, obscene, violent, threatening, intimidating, disparaging, discriminatory, or harassing toward others or that otherwise violates GM’s Code of Conduct, anti-harassment policies, and other relevant policies.

Examples of inappropriate conduct include:

• Offensive posts aimed at intentionally damaging someone’s reputation
• Comments or posts that threaten or promote violence
• Content that discriminates, harasses, or threatens others based on age, race, sex, religion, disability, or other characteristics protected by law or company policy.

Please note, while GM does not seek to regulate lawful off-duty conduct, online activity may still lead to corrective action, up to and including termination of employment, if it:

• Creates or contributes to a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment
• Disrupts workplace relationships or safety
• Harms or is likely to harm GM’s business interests or reputation

ACTION: It’s your choice how much you want to combine your personal and professional online lives. Consider the implications of connecting with your coworkers and others from your professional life on social media and approach those choices with care. 

III.     Special Considerations

A.     Retaining GM Business Records and Social Media Content

Not all social media tools are set up to create, retain or delete GM business records as required by our Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) Policy and GM Record Retention Schedule (GMRRS).  

ACTION: Unless (i) you are using GM’s internal social media platform (Sharefluence), Slack, or (ii) you are acting on GM’s behalf as an authorized social media user (i.e., running the Chevrolet Facebook page), you must not use social media to conduct GM business.

ACTION: You must not post any message or communicate with anyone through social media about a subject that is covered by a litigation or open tax year hold.

• Be aware that information discussed using social media may become relevant to litigation or other investigation proceedings and may be subject to a Litigation Hold.
• Litigation Holds are instructions issued by GM Legal Staff that require records be preserved for litigation and government investigations. If the content of a social media communication is relevant to a Litigation Hold, regardless of whether it is a business record or non-business record, that communication must be preserved until the hold is lifted.

B.     Personal References on Social Media Sites

Employees who leave GM on good terms may want a reference from a GM colleague or ask for informal feedback (e.g., a LinkedIn recommendation).  Any such comments or endorsements made online are strictly personal and must not appear to represent GM’s views unless the guidance set out in your country-specific policy provides otherwise.  

ACTION: GM’s policies about providing professional references for current or former GM employees, contract workers, and consultants vary based on the laws and regulations of each country.  Please consult your country-specific policies for guidance.

C.     Responding to Negative Content You May See about GM

We recognize that our employees play an important role in monitoring the social media landscape.  You may encounter consumer complaints about specific vehicles or specific issues while online.

ACTION: To ensure issues about specific vehicles can be properly tracked and reported, Speak Up for Safety and Think Customer by bringing these issues to the attention of the GM Social Care at socialmedia@gm.com (non-U.S. issues will be forwarded to local Care teams).

• If special access is required to view the content (Facebook Groups, etc.) you may also publicly refer customers to the socialmedia@gm.com email, while disclosing that you work for GM. Do not try to resolve vehicle problems yourself online.

D.     Internal Social Media

GM has made internal social media networks, such as Slack, available for employees to share workplace information within GM. Internal collaboration tools and sites are valuable resources for conducting company business and helping employees share, engage and collaborate with colleagues. This information is NOT to be shared externally on your own personal social media channels or to media outlets. We have pre-approved and shareable social media content available on Sharefluence.

Slack Administrators reserve the right to delete or remove content they deem inappropriate according to GM’s Code of Conduct, the Slack AUP, other Company policies.

ACTION:  If you are concerned that posted content is not consistent with GM’s policies, you can click on the post to report the conversation.  You may also report your concerns through Awareline.

Remember, just as with external social media all rules apply to internal posts, which includes using good judgment. Online activities may impact an employee’s reputation, image and the ability to effectively interact with coworkers and business partners.  There is no private post or chat on company-provided tools.

E.      Opening Social Media Channels on Behalf of GM

You should never open social media channels on behalf of any GM entity without approval from the GM Social Media Center of Expertise.

The Global GM Social Media Center of Expertise approves requests to open new General Motors social media channels and can provide the proper resources needed to ensure the potential new channel’s success.  Note that GM owns all social media accounts used on its behalf, including any and all log-in information, passwords and content associated with each account, such as followers and contacts.  

ACTION: You should not open social channels, communities, hubs or other social media groups that represent or are branded as General Motors or any of its brands, products, or affiliates without first contacting the Social COE. Please contact the GM Social Media Center of Expertise at socialcoe@gm.com for additional information.

F.         Conduct Not Prohibited by this Policy

This policy is not intended, and will not be administered, to prohibit communications or actions that are protected or required by local law.  GM’s Social Media Policy (this document) will be administered in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (including, in the U.S., Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act).  For employees and representatives outside the U.S., this policy is subject to the applicable laws in the countries in which it is administered.  For more information, contact your local GM Legal representatives.

G. Interaction with Collective Bargaining Agreements

The terms of this policy work in conjunction with, and do not replace or amend any terms or conditions of employment stated in any collective bargaining agreement that a union has with GM.  Wherever employment terms in this policy differ from the terms expressed in the applicable collective bargaining agreement with GM, employees should refer to the specific terms of the collective bargaining agreement, which control.

 

• LAST UPDATE: March 2026, this policy supersedes and replaces all previous Global Social Media Policies.
• OWNER: GM Social Media Center of Expertise (GM Social COE)
• SCOPE: Global
• APPROVERS:  GM Social Media Center of Expertise (GM Social COE), HR, GM Legal