Social networks? Legal problems?
Article Type: Abstracts From: Strategic Direction, Volume 27, Issue 2
Weston M.Computing, August 2010, Start page: 23, No. of pages: 2
Describes how the recent emergence of social networks and the social media that accompany them has adapted and changed many of the concepts deeply associated with society, such as “friends” and “contacts”through the increased ability of people to connect and interact. Argues that the extent to which social networking has become embedded in the workplace and is now taken for granted by employees has changed the nature of the work environment through the ubiquitous presence of such facilities as e-mail,Facebook and Twitter and has led to the “keeping up with the Joneses”phenomenon whereby companies and organizations vie with one another to introduce the latest in social media. Discusses the potential problems associated with this trend, whereby the technology is advancing so rapidly that it is outpacing the skills of the employees charged with its implementation and running, while damage can be caused through web pages and blogs lacking the required updating or holding information that is out of date and inaccurate. Stresses the extreme security and confidentiality dangers that are posed by social media and networking, where even trivial details, such as employees announcing that they are leaving the company, can give away important information about the organization. Considers some of the strategies that can be adopted to minimize the potential risks of social networking in the workplace, including training staff regarding: privacy rules and obligations; how “top contacts”and friends lists should and should not be used; and when and how contacts or friends should be listed as contacts and friends. Concludes that social networks are likely to become a permanent fixture on the corporate landscape but care must be taken to heed the commercial and legal risks associated with them.Article type: ViewpointISSN: 0307-8965Reference: 39AX121
Keywords: Data security, Employees, Internet, Organizations,Privacy, Risk management, Social networks
