Crediting creators

UGC encompasses a wide range of content types, including images, videos, text, testimonials, and audio, which are created and shared by users on various online platforms. UGC can be a valuable resource for the NSW Government because sharing UGC helps increase community engagement, build trust and expand reach. 

Including a diverse range of voices in your UGC enhances its relatability and accessibility to a wider audience. 

To ensure proper crediting of creators in UGC, follow these guidelines. 

Steps for crediting creators 

1. Create terms and conditions 

Create specific terms and conditions that govern the use of UGC by your agency, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and ethical standards. You can refer to the NSW Government's terms and conditions as an example but note that each agency is responsible for establishing its own guidelines.  

2. Identify the creator 

Review the UGC to determine its creator/s. If you encounter a situation where content has been submitted for us to share without proper crediting, you should consider the following steps: 

• Reach out to the user who submitted the content and ask them to provide the necessary credit. 
• Conduct a thorough search to identify the original creator of the content. Explore various platforms and perform reverse image searches, if applicable, to trace the origin. 
• If all attempts to identify the creator fail, it is best to refrain from using the content to avoid any potential copyright infringements.

3. Confirm agreement 

It is essential to notify the content creator about your intentions to use their work. Ensure the creator has read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions. This step ensures transparency and establishes a respectful relationship with the creator. 

4. Respect the creator's wishes 

Give creators the opportunity to withdraw participation in our programs, or request changes to the work. 

5. Maintain documentation 

Maintain proper documentation of all communication with content creators, including agreement to the terms and conditions, any requested changes, and any agreements reached. This documentation is important for legal compliance and reference purposes.  

6. Determine the type of credit and placement 

Determine the appropriate type of credit and its placement based on the creator's preferences. Many creators have specific guidelines for how they want their work to be credited. Check for any specific requirements the creator may have and follow them accordingly. 

Common types of credit include: 

• Name credit: The creator's full name is mentioned alongside the work in the caption. 
• Handle credit: The creator's social media username or handle is mentioned and/or tagged in the caption. 
• Tag credit: The creator’s social media account is tagged in the photo or video (Facebook & Instagram allow this feature). 
• Link credit: The work is linked to the creator's website, social media profile, or portfolio. 
• Watermark credit: The creator’s name or handle is included on the image or video itself. 

Use a combination of these credit types as appropriate. Additionally, consider including the creator's name or username in any relevant metadata or alt-text.  

If there are multiple sources (such as a designer, builder, photographer, artist), credit as many of them as possible. 

Best practice for crediting content on different social media platforms 

Instagram: 

• Use the creator's Instagram handle as a tag in the photo or video. 
• Use a clear and concise credit in the caption, such as "Photo by First Name, Surname” or “Photo by @username". 
• Consider adding the creator's handle or full name to the photo or video itself as an overlay credit.  

Facebook

• Mention the creator's name or page in the caption of the post. 
• Use a tag to link to the creator's Facebook page. 
• Consider including the creator's name or handle in the photo or video itself.

LinkedIn

• Use the creator's name and company in the caption of the post. 
• Consider tagging the creator or their company in the post. 
• Consider including the creator's name or handle in the photo or video itself. 
• If the creator has a website, include a link to it in the post. 

YouTube

• Include a credit in the video description that includes the creator's name and a link to their channel or website. 
• Consider including a credit in the video itself as an overlay or end screen element. 
• If the creator has a YouTube channel, you can mention them in the video's end screen to encourage viewers to check out their channel. 

X (formally Twitter)

• Mention the creator's username in the post. 
• Consider adding a clear and concise credit in the post, such as "Photo by First Name, Surname" or "Photo by @username". 
• If using a post or information from another user, repost or quote the post with a comment and credit the original creator. 
• Consider including a link to the creator’s website, social media or content.  

Threads

• Credit the user for any shared threads “Thread by @username”. 
• Use the creator's Threads handle as a tag in the photo or video. 
• Use a clear and concise credit in the caption, such as “Photo by @username". 
• Consider adding the creator's handle or full name to the photo or video itself as an overlay credit. 

Social media terms of service

Each social media platform has guidance on the use of third-party material, liability for copyright infringement, and instructions for removing content that infringes copyright.