Reminder on the Responsible Use of Social Media by All DepEd Personnel
The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued an official memorandum reminding all undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, bureau and service directors, regional directors, schools division superintendents, school heads, and teachers to observe professionalism, prudence, and sound judgment in their online activities.
Issued by Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Atty. Fatima Lipp D. Panontongan on August 11, 2026, the directive comes following reports of social media posts involving teachers and other school personnel that may run counter to the expected standards of professional conduct.
The advisory reiterates existing principles outlined under DepEd Order (DO) No. 049, s. 2022, which emphasizes the promotion of professionalism, skill, and excellence. Personnel are mandated to treat learners and stakeholders with the highest degree of respect and to protect the honor and integrity of the Department. The memo underscores that using personal social media accounts does not exempt personnel from professional standards, particularly when content connects to official functions, identifies them as DepEd representatives, or involves learners, classroom activities, or school premises.
Referencing DO 006, s. 2026, the advisory regulates the use of portable electronic devices and restricts the unauthorized disclosure or access of learners' Personally Identifiable Information (PII) across virtual settings and social media platforms. Under existing guidelines, personnel are also cautioned against spreading rumors or false information, launching online attacks against fellow employees instead of utilizing proper mediation procedures, and disparaging the organization.
The Department urges all officials and personnel to exercise caution when sharing posts, maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students, and ensure that online discussions regarding current public matters do not compromise their professional duties or expose learners to unwarranted public scrutiny.
Full Text of the Memorandum
MEMORANDUM
TO: Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Bureaus and Service Directors, Regional Directors, Schools Division Superintendents, Public Elementary and Secondary School Heads and Teachers, All Others Concerned
FROM: ATTY. FATIMA LIPP D. PANONTONGAN, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary
SUBJECT: Reminder on the Responsible Use of Social Media by All DepEd Personnel
DATE: August 11, 2026
1. This Office has received reports of social media posts involving teachers and other school personnel that may not be consistent with the standards of professionalism expected of DepEd personnel. These reports highlight the need to exercise appropriate judgment and responsibility in the use of social media, particularly where online activities involve learners, classroom activities, school premises, or otherwise arise from the performance of official functions.
2. In view thereof, this Office deems it appropriate to reiterate existing Department of Education (DepEd) policies on the responsible use of social media and the standards of conduct expected of all DepEd personnel in their online activities, whether undertaken in their personal capacity or in connection with the performance of their official functions.
3. DepEd Order (DO) No. 049, s. 2022, or the Amendments to DO No. 047, s. 2022 (Promotion of Professionalism in the Implementation and Delivery of Basic Education Programs and Services), was issued to further strengthen professionalism within the Department and expressly introduced additional provisions on the responsible use of social media. Under the same Order, DepEd officials and employees are expected to treat learners and stakeholders with the highest degree of professionalism, skill, and excellence, respect the rights of others, and desist from acts that may compromise their integrity as government employees or the honor of DepEd.
4. These standards expressly extend to the use of social media. DO 049, s. 2022 requires employees and officials to consider the legal restrictions imposed by existing laws, rules, and DepEd issuances in their use of social media, whether for personal use or as a tool in carrying out their mandate. It further directs personnel to exercise caution when sharing posts or other content and to remain mindful of the reputation and honor of the Department.
5. Accordingly, all DepEd personnel are expected to exercise professionalism, prudence, and sound judgment in their online activities. The use of personal social media accounts does not, by itself, dispense with the professional and ethical standards applicable to DepEd personnel, particularly where the content is connected with the performance of their official functions, identifies or represents them as DepEd personnel, or involves learners, school activities, or school premises.
6. For teachers and other personnel who directly interact with learners, particular care must be exercised when creating or publishing social media content involving learners or classroom activities. Teachers occupy positions of trust and exercise authority and influence over learners. Thus, they are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and to exercise sound professional judgment where content features learners under their supervision or makes use of classroom activities or school premises.
7. This responsibility is further reinforced by DO 006, s. 2026, titled Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment, which applies learner-protection measures in both physical and virtual settings and supplements and harmonizes existing DepEd policies, including DOs 047 and 049, s. 2022. DO 006, s. 2026 emphasizes the responsibility of teaching, teaching-related, and nonteaching personnel to uphold professionalism and ethics, protect learners' rights, autonomy, and personal boundaries, and maintain safe physical and online environments. In this regard, DO 006, s. 2026 likewise regulates the use of portable electronic devices during instructional hours and requires safeguards against the unauthorized use, access, or disclosure of learners' Personally Identifiable Information, including through social media.
8. Taken together, these policies underscore that DepEd personnel must exercise appropriate professional judgment in creating and sharing social media content, particularly where it involves learners or classroom activities. While discussions of current events and public matters may serve legitimate educational purposes, personnel should refrain from repurposing such activities or learners' participation for personal social media content in a manner that may compromise their professional responsibilities or expose learners to unwarranted public scrutiny.
9. DO 007, s. 2026, or the Media Management Guidelines, is likewise instructive. While the Guidelines generally do not address the personal use of social media by DepEd personnel, they recognize that personal social media accounts may nevertheless be subject to regulation when they appear to contain official DepEd communications or adversely affect the image, reputation, or functions of DepEd, its officials, employees, or personnel.
10. In view of the foregoing, all DepEd personnel are reminded to exercise professionalism, prudence, and sound judgment in their use of social media, whether for personal purposes or in connection with the performance of their official functions. In particular, personnel are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with learners and ensure that social media content involving learners, classroom activities, or school premises is consistent with legitimate educational purposes and the professional and ethical responsibilities of DepEd personnel.
11. Immediate dissemination of this Order is directed.
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