In reading the listed articles, I feel the pros of social media and blogging in the workplace far outweigh the cons. The common negative/con throughout the articles was the potential of the employee being hacked (whether severely as in identity theft, or by a friend trying to prank or embarrass them). This can easily be avoided, as long as someone adamantly protects their identity, passwords, and privacy they should be okay; being proactive is key. Regarding fair policy in the work place, blogging and social media should be allowed for employees to engage in at a reasonable amounts of time during the work day, and at their own discretion on personal time. As long as the company makes it clear to the employee that their digital identity/online presence should reflect the professional/workplace identity, or there will be consequences (as severe as being fired). I believe people should be responsible for what they say whether it be verbal or written. Saying something mean, offensive, or inappropriate is just as hurtful or off putting whether it is read or heard. When employees (or anyone for that matter) publish/post things via social media, blogs, emails, etc. they should use caution and think twice before posting/publishing/sending. One should ask themselves questions a long the lines of:
1) Would I want my mom/dad, grandparents, or boss to read this?
2) Do I like how this will reflect on me/my intelligence?
Of course sometimes we just want to vent, say what we really feel and think, but there is always a time and place for it. Private threads, chat apps, and blogging under and obscure alias on your own time are always easy fixes to vent if one really feels the need to do so in a more public manner. Keeping a positive outlook and attitude overall is always important in life. Also, if one truly feels the need to bash their workplace/employers then maybe they need to reevaluate their situation and think about seeking new employment or other avenues. This brings me to another point, social media and blogging is beneficial to employers because it allows them to get to know their employees on a more personal level. The CEO of Hootsuite raves about the benefits of the employee-employer relationship when social media (especially Twitter) allows everyone to interact on an equal level at all times creates a positive atmosphere and a stronger company (see article link below “3 reasons…Media”). More pros of workplace blogging and social media besides a stronger community is the marketing for the company. The first article (“More Than One third…Have Blogs”) lists positive statistics to support blogging in the workplace, proving that over 40% of the top 500 companies utilizing social media are in the top 200 of the top 500 companies to work for. That in itself is marketing for that 40+%. Who wouldn’t want to work for a top 500 company who encourages it’s employees to be social, and branch out in the digital outlets that have become such an integral part of ones social life in 2014? In my opinion, it’s clear that social media and blogging are beneficial to employers and employees a like and should be encouraged. Like every situation in life, one is expected to make good choices and present themselves in a positive manner- applying the same concept to the pixel world simply makes sense.
Holmes, Ryan. “3 Reasons Why Your Company Should Pay Employees to Use Social Media.” Web log post. Hootsuite. HootSuite Media Inc., 2013. Web. 27 Aug. 2014. <http://blog.hootsuite.com/pay-employees-to-use-social/>.
(Image) O’Neill, Megan. “What Are Companies Saying About Social Media in the Workplace?” Web log post. Social Times. Media Bistro, 15 Aug. 2011. Web. 27 Aug. 2014. <http://socialtimes.com/social-media-in-the-workplace-infographic_b74120>.
I would like to start by saying that I agree with you that the pros of blogging and social media in the workplace outweigh the cons. I think you have made several solid points to support this claim.
My only concern is with this statement:
The common negative/con throughout the articles was the potential of the employee being hacked (whether severely as in identity theft, or by a friend trying to prank or embarrass them). This can easily be avoided, as long as someone adamantly protects their identity, passwords, and privacy they should be okay; being proactive is key.
I agree that protecting your passwords is the first step to protecting your internet safety, but it will not always keep you 100% safe. Sometimes, your own internet security can be out of your control.
One example that comes to mind is the December 2013 security breach at Target, where up to 70 million individuals had their credit card information, addresses, and other personal information stolen.
Just last month, Russian hackers stole more than one billion usernames and passwords from various websites, including Netflix, Bank of America, Facebook, and more. The scary part is that thee hackers used basic SQL scripts to steal all of this information.
My point is that to truly protect yourself, you must do more than keep your passwords a secret. Changing your password often, like every 3 months, is another step to protecting yourself. Maybe the companies that allow their employees to use blogging and social media in the workplace could require that these employees change their passwords every 90 days. They could also require complex passwords with a minimum number of characters.
I agree with you that although blogging and use of social media can be risky, they are worth the risk, especially if you take adequate steps to protect yourself. As long as companies are willing to take the time to educate their employees on how to protect themselves online, social media and blogging can produce many positive outcomes!
Sources:
Target: https://corporate.target.com/about/shopping-experience/payment-card-issue-FAQ#q5961
Russian hackers: http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/russian-hackers-said-haul-over-billion-stolen-emails-passwords-n173401