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My Pledge to Fight Corporate Blocking of Social Media Sites
By Justin Goldsborough | March 20th, 2010
- What do you think about companies blocking employees from social media sites?
- Does your company block or do you know other companies that do?
- Will you make a similar pledge?
I look forward to your thoughts, and pledges, in the comments.
March 20th, 2010 at 11:03 am
When talking about “social media policies” and blocking sites, I’ve asked a number of clients and executives things like “what’s your magazine policy?” or “what’s your looking out the window policy?”
My point? We all need breaks throughout the day. Many of us chat with people in the hall. We go to the cafeteria or breakroom. It’s OK to jump on Facebook for a minute as well.
Additionally, there are benefits to social media use at work. I just got a game developed for a client for less than $3,000, and I got the lead because I asked my Twitter network for recommendations.
If the company’s concern is what the employee might say online, I’d ask if that same company worries about what the employee might say while wearing the company’s logo in public? Most companies encourage that, and it’s the same concept, just in two different worlds.
Bottom line: if employees are getting their work done, great. If not, it doesn’t matter if they’re on Facebook, daydreaming or in the bathroom too often. That’s a management issue, not a social media issue.
Count me in on the pledge! Nice work!
March 20th, 2010 at 11:06 am
[…] Visit Justin’s original blog post here. […]
March 20th, 2010 at 11:24 am
“Bottom line: if employees are getting their work done, great. If not, it doesn’t matter if they’re on Facebook, daydreaming or in the bathroom too often. That’s a management issue, not a social media issue.”
Absolutely! Great to have you on board, Doyle. I’ve asked Shel what else he’s planning to help spread word. Continuing the conversation about the topic will help. Love to hear any ideas you have.
Btw, I also saved our agency and a client money last week by asking my Twitter friends for reccos on Twitter tracking tool. So many more benefits than drawbacks. Just requires a little education and common sense.
JG
March 21st, 2010 at 5:00 am
[…] I came across a vblog (via twitter) to pledge a boycott against companies that block social media sites. My initial thought was YES! I pledge. But […]
March 21st, 2010 at 5:18 am
Hi Justin,
Respectfully, do you not think that boycotting may be a bit of a harsh measure? I agree with everthing you say of course. No one should block social media. I just question if a boycott is the answer.
I blogged my response about this on my site and would love your comments! I’m sure you have some great insights on this.
Thanks
March 21st, 2010 at 6:18 am
My guess is that with 3G net access becoming ubiquitous, with large screen smartphones, netbooks, laptops, tablet PCs becoming a household appliance, the whole issue becomes more or less irrelevant.
There is no way to stop social media, however, blocking it at the company will make that company somewhat ‘challenged’ socialmediawise by definition, as employees will more likely not to use social media for business if they are not allowed to use the firm’s computer to reach it.
Hopefully, most companies will simply die out or will be forced to adopt social media because of absolute cost competition inherent with social media (as it’s free vs. the paid, or cost heavy channels used by these ‘conservative’ companies).
March 21st, 2010 at 7:45 am
@Frederique Thanks for your thoughts. Always welcome differing points of view. I think a boycott alone might not make sense, which is why I plan a follow-up post(s) and conversations about why some companies are uncomfortable with social media and how we might help them change that mentality constructively.
That said, blocking is an issue that’s frustrated me for a long time and it does no good for anybody. It hurts the employees who work at companies that block and their customers.
My expectation as a customer, along with those of many others I’ve talked to, has changed as a result of social media. If I have a customer service issue, I expect to be able to engage with the brand or its employees in near real time online in hopes of finding an answer. That’s my right as a customer and a transition in mentality all companies need to understand. Therefore, the boycott is not a simple result of frustration or an attempt to raise awareness — it is partly those, btw — but also a choice I’m making based on my existing expectations as a consumer.
March 21st, 2010 at 7:59 am
@Aron Agree with you on multiple points.
A) It makes no sense to block employees from using social media at work because nearly 40% have smartphones from which they can access these social networks. And 50% of Americans have Internet access at home. Plus there are places people can access the Internet for free — e.g libraries.
B) If a company blocks social media at work, employees are much less likely to use social media to help/promote the business.
I never really thought of this as taking a stand or a boycott — more of a pledge — but if it’s a stand for anything, it’s for the rights of employees to represent their company publicly, thus feeling more a part of the organization and that their jobs have more purpose.
There is a much more frustrating deep-seeded issue here that manifests itself in this conversation about blocking social media — companies not trusting the employees that they hire. And that’s something worth taking a stand for IMO.
Thanks for stopping by.
April 12th, 2010 at 7:48 am
Here’s my contribution. Before companies simply block social media apps across the board, their IT dept should read this helpful whitepaper called “To Block or Not. Is that the question?”
http://bit.ly/9f8WOT
It has lots of insightful and useful information about identifying and controlling Enterprise 2.0 apps (Facebook, Twitter, Skype, SharePoint, etc.)
It shouldn’t have to be an “all or nothing” proposition.
June 2nd, 2010 at 6:11 am
As an IT consultant I am fully aware that IT management is struggling with whether social media is productive or obstructive for companies and their employees. Software is being developed and policy and restrictions are being decided everyday by IT managers. The security of company networks are at stake but the potential for innovation using social media is a large enough carrot for the discussion of how to properly utilize the medium continues. Palo Alto networks came up with a webinar, http://bit.ly/cR80Al, that will explore the issues surrounding social media in the workplace as a follow-up to a very popular whitepaper you may have already read, http://bit.ly/d2NZRp. It is important to not only understand the immediate benefits of doing business how one lives, but the threat it presents to a company’s greater ROI and productivity when it comes to the server’s safety and security.