33+ SAMPLE Social Agreement

What Is a Social Agreement?

A social agreement is a formal agreement or contract between members of a group or team. It is an agreement that sets rules, regulations and boundaries with regard to how members behave and operate within the group.

According to an online article published by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the social contract theory can be approached through contemporary lens by keeping in mind five basic elements. These five elements are the role of the social contract, the parties involved in the contract, the agreement itself, the object of the agreement and lastly, what the agreement is supposed to show.  

Examples of Social Agreements 

Social agreement is a pretty broad phrase; it can have many implications and it can apply to several areas or fields. The examples below explore and describe just some of the most common social agreements. 

Social Work. Being a social worker is far from easy. It comes with all kinds of professional and personal responsibilities that can be quite challenging. Social work involves dealing with all types of difficult cases ranging from trauma, abuse, poverty and various kinds of social ills. Oftentimes, the sheer emotional weight of it can result in the social worker feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. This can be observed in welfare cases or foster homes, wherein society’s most vulnerable (e.g., children, the homeless, low-income class women) are faced with insurmountable challenges. Therefore, social workers who deal specifically with these kinds of cases must adhere to a strict code of conduct in order to dispense the best kind of service. They must be bound to a professional agreement that will guide them and help them overcome obstacles in their field. Social Media. The digital or virtual world can be a very tricky space to navigate. Unlike the real or physical world, the lines are much more blurred when it comes to what is acceptable or not. Social media has certainly changed the way people interact and relate to one another. It has also given people a greater sense of anonymity and unfortunately, this chips away at one’s accountability in many instances. Thus, online behavior should still be properly regulated in such a way that freedom of speech is fiercly protected but accompanied with a greater degree of responsibility. Contract agreements on the regular use of social media can be helpful in many scenarios- in the home, workplace, school, classroom, etc. Social Network. For many people, their social networks make up a large part of their identity. Being social creatures, forming ties and relations comes naturally to individuals. Whether it is a professional network of business ties or a familial network of extended kin, social networks are the building blocks of society. Without community, individuals cannot thrive, much less survive. Without meaningful connections, societies can easily fall apart and disintegrate. In structured social institutions such as schools or classrooms, certain expectations and rules are put in place for a reason. These rules, whether formal or unspoken, are in part a social agreement that guides the actions and responses of individuals within the group. Social Responsibility. Another important example of a social agreement is the social responsibility people share. This means that each individual has an innate responsibility not just towards other people, but to the environment as well. The very concept of social responsibility is rooted in the idea that everyone belongs to the same planet and therefore, must do their part in promoting and sustaining a healthy environment. Each individual must make an active commitment to taking care of both people and the environment. It is also important to note that sustainability and social responsibility go hand-in-hand. It is the reason why corporate social responsibility or CSR initiatives are mostly geared towards community development and environmental protection.

Tips For Writing a Social Agreement

Depending on the kind of social agreement you are crafting, there can be various ways to improve its content. The following examples are just some simple tips on how you can make your social agreement more practical and constructive.  

First-person pronouns are more effective. If you want to deliver the most impact in your social agreement, try to approach it from a first person perspective. That is, use pronouns such as ‘I’ and ‘me’ instead of ‘you’ or ‘them’. This helps promote greater accountability and ownership of the terms stated in the social agreement. Whether your social agreement is centered on social media or corporate responsibility, using first person language especially in describing actions and initiatives can make all the difference. There is a stark difference between using a prescriptive and detached second or third person perspective and using a first person point of view. The latter can help bridge any impersonal disconnection and help foster ownership.The community’s interest above all. From the very word itself, a social agreement is not favorable only to one person’s interest or agenda. It is social, and therefore it pertains to everyone in the group, not just one or two individuals. If you want your social agreement to stand firm or be grounded in inclusivity, then you must be willing to take in the interest of the common good. Personal agendas and self-interest have no place in a social agreement. It should be written with the intent of advancing the community’s interests and objectives. Keeping the community’s interest at the forefront of the agreement can also help cultivate the values of fraternity, solidarity and camaraderie. An agreement that is based on mutual respect. Another way to ensure that your social agreement is sustainable and impactful is to ground it in respect and truth. Without this basic value, a social agreement can crumble or fall apart with the first sign of trouble. For instance, if a social media agreement between family members is highly biased or favors only the parents’ wishes, then there’s a high chance the agreement will not work out in the long-run. Further, even the language used in drafting the agreement should reflect the values of respectfulness and inclusivity. Never underestimate the power of words and their meaning. As much as possible, use concrete action words as this will deliver more impact as opposed to abstract or theoretical language.

How to Create a Social Agreement

The content of a social agreement would greatly depend on the kind of agreement. But if it is convenience that you are looking for, using a ready-made template will save you a ton of time and effort. Browse the selection of editable templates above, choose one that suits your needs and follow the instructions below.   

Step 1: Identify the Parties Involved 

The first step in creating a formal social agreement is establishing the parties entering into the agreement. Whether it is two, three or more parties, make sure to identify each clearly. Indicate the complete names of each party. Depending on the kind of social agreement, including the complete address of the parties can also be an option. Naming the parties is an important element of the introductory section of your agreement. To clearly highlight the identities of each party, you can use bold characters or underscore the names of the parties in your agreement.       

Step 2: Outline the Responsibilities 

The next step is defining the roles and responsibilities of each party. By its very nature, a social agreement implies that the parties establish promises and are expected to keep their end of the bargain. This declaration of promises and responsibilities is key to an effective social agreement. The responsibilities can be enumerated separately by using bullet points or numbers. For each item, make sure to use action words and a first person point of view. As mentioned in the previous section, using first person pronouns can help foster a stronger sense of accountability and ownership.   

Step 3: Determine the Terms Of Agreement  

Once you have covered all the responsibilities and expectations, proceed to outline the terms and conditions of the arrangement. A social agreement, like any formal contract, ought to be bound by ground rules. These rules or conditions serve as a guide that will aid behavior and decision-making of all parties involved. Of course, the specific terms will depend on the type of social agreement. For instance, a corporate social responsibility agreement might indicate agreement terms pertaining to the implementation schedule of projects, liability clause, insurance measures, sponsorship guidelines, etc.    

Step 4: Formalize the Declaration

Lastly, a social agreement is still a formal agreement. So it is crucial to affirm the agreement of all participating parties. This can be done through a simple declaration statement. It does not need to be long, a brief sentence or two should be enough. Make sure to leave adequate space at the end of the social agreement for the signatories. The point is merely to formalize the contract by having the parties affix their name and signature as proof of agreement. 

FAQs

What is an example of a social agreement?

Laws or policies that citizens are enjoined to observe can be an example of a social agreement. In this context, a social agreement is crafted with the purpose of maintaining law and order in a society. Other examples include a social media marketing agreement made between a client and a social media management agency.

Is a social agreement a contract?

In many ways, yes. A social agreement can either be a formal or informal contract that individuals enter into in order to preserve society and maintain a sense of community with each other.

What is a social agreement in business?

A social agreement in business is a formal contract that two or more parties enter into. Having an agreement helps to manage expectations on both sides; that is, the practical business side and the social implication of its business activities.

What is a social agreement in law?

A social agreement in law is essentially an agreement that serves as the guiding principle for citizens and institutions within a given context in society.

A social agreement can either empower or it can create inconvenience, if not executed the right way. Therefore, it is important to have a solid social agreement that is rooted in fairness and justice. Browse the wide collection of sample templates above, select one that reflects your needs and start crafting your own social agreement today!