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Social Networking, Are you ready for it?
Facebook has:
- More than 110 million active users
- Facebook is the 4th most-trafficked website in the world (comScore)
- Facebook is the most-trafficked social media site in the world (comScore)
- Over 55,000 regional, work-related, collegiate, and high school networks
- No. 1 photo sharing application on the Web
- More than 6 million active user groups on the site
Let’s start our history about Mr.Kyle Doyle (the guy on the picture above).
He was a Sydney telecom employee who learned the hard way the risks of sharing too much information on Facebook after he was caught by his boss faking a sickie after a big night out.
He was asked by his employer to provide a medical certificate, he protested, saying his contract stipulated he did not require a medical certificate.
Result:The manager sent Doyle a screenshot of Doyle’s Facebook profile, highlighting a status update written on the leave day in question:
“Kyle Doyle is not going to work, f— it i’m still trashed. SICKIE WOO!,”.
In another episode - Virgin Atlantic Sacked 13 of their staff after publicaly criticize the company on facebook(via Theage.com.au).
“Following a thorough investigation, it was found that all 13 staff participated in a discussion on the networking site Facebook, which brought the company into disrepute and insulted some of our passengers.”
They said
“There is a time and a place for Facebook. But there is no justification for it to be used as a sounding board for staff of any company to criticise the very passengers who ultimately pay their salaries,”
Can you notice something here?
Virgin didn’t sacked the (social networking users) staff for criticizing the company but for CRITICIZING THE PASSANGERS.
While Facebook (and more) naturally open to debate - some love it, others hate it, and many simply do not understand what the fuss is about - companies need to open their eyes to an emerging social phenomenon that is poorly understood - Social Media Congregation.
Although most people associate these websites (Facebook, Myspace, etc) with social activities, the site can be very useful in mobilising interest around a brand.
Companies are obviously entitled to establish the ground rules for employee behaviour, however Attempts to block such activity are not only bound to fail, but they ultimately cut off companie’s people from their own communities.
“The attempts to block Facebook or punish users for stating their opinions fails to appreciate that social network sites are simply the internet generation’s equivalent of the town hall, the school cafeteria, or the workplace water cooler - the place where people come together to exchange both ideas and idle gossip.” (text from BBC)
The Answer? A clear and standard position facing the reality.
What do YOU think?
Cheers
Lucio Dias Ribeiro
