March 3

US Defense Department finally lifts ban of social networking sites

Department of Defense

The U.S. Department of Defense has lifted it’s ban on social networking sites that had been in place for some sections of the agency since 2007. The Department of Defense issued a memorandum on Friday that sets a new policy allowing access to social-networking services from the DoD network.

“Service members and DoD employees are welcome and encouraged to use new media to communicate with family and friends — at home stations or deployed — but it’s important to do it safely,” a Department representative said in a blog post about the memorandum.

IT workers within the administration are still given the go-ahead to use their own discretion to ban or limit social networking use, although one would imagine they would not be too well liked around the office if they did so.

This new policy frees up the DoD to continue their foray into social networking sites such as Twitter, where they are building up a presence.