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The list outlines how the county's more than 1,500 employees should take caution when using social networking sites.

Some of the guidelines states personal social media activities should neither be conducted at work nor interfere with work, information published on an employee's blog should follow confidentiality and disclosure rules and any personal blog started by a county worker should identify that person.

"If you're going to be on a blog and you're talking just about county work, or something related to the county, put in a disclaimer that you work for Williamson County, and that your views do not reflect Williamson County," Williamson County Public Information Officer Connie Watson said.

The Williamson County Employees Association is most concerned about how the disclaimer policy could impact employees who choose to create personal blogs off the clock.

"On your own time, on your own equipment, as a private citizen, they want you to put a disclaimer that you are a county employee," Williamson County Employees Association President Royger Harris said. "Quite frankly, it's no one's business where you work and if you're an employee or not."

"[A disclaimer] says, 'This is my own. I'm not representing my employer here.' It makes it pretty clear. However, there's a line that still needs to be figured out there sometimes," Social Media Dynamo's Ricardo Guerrero said.

Austin officials said the city doesn't have a policy regarding what employees do in their free time when outside of work. Officials with the City of Round Rock advises employees to use their best judgment and refer to regular communication policies.

The last time county officials updated the policies in their employee manuals was in 2003, when social networking was less popular than it is today.

"There were a couple issues that human resources had dealt with involving some type of social media, but mostly it's just very prevalent right now," Watson said.

County officials hope their policies will reinforce state laws against harassment and other potential workplace issues. However, Harris and other employees feel the policies mark an infringement on their right to free speech.

"I believe that the policy is flawed, and it's going to cause problems in the future. The commissioners say their goal is to protect the employees from online stalking, harassment, things of that nature. That's what state laws are for," Harris said. "What [county workers] do on their time, on their equipment, it's no one's business where they're an employee of."

Watson said the policy will require no new personnel or the creation of any county department, since issues will be handled on a case-by-case basis through supervisors or human resources.

The policies are expected to take effect when the budget does, on Oct. 1.