Report shows views on social media

by Enstep Team | Dec 19, 2012 | Social Media

SocialMedia_Dec18_ASocial media has become an integral part of many of the younger generation’s lives. They see it largely as an extension of themselves; a cornerstone to their personal identity. Because of this, many feel that they should be able to access social networking sites while at work, often complaining when they can’t. Is this such a big deal? A recent report says maybe.

The report, published this past summer by Kelly Services reported on social media in the workplace, and highlighted findings and opinions from three major regions: The APAC (Asia Pacific), The Americas and the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). Below are some interesting results on the use of social media in the business environment.

Social media at work by region
Social media and it’s use in the organization is a hot-button topic. Many argue that by allowing employees to access it at the office, they will spend all day surfing their personal accounts and not doing any work. The study found that an average of 30% of employees across all regions feel that it’s ok to access their personal accounts while at work. Interestingly enough, the APAC has the highest percentage (48%) of users who think social media access at the office is acceptable, while The Americas had the lowest (16%).

Social media use at work by generation
Going a little deeper into the use of personal social media accounts at the office, the survey breaks down the numbers by generation. Not surprisingly, Gen-Y (36%) are the most inclined to think it’s acceptable to access social media while at the office. What is interesting about this is that 30% of Gen-X also think it’s fine to access these services while at work.

These statistics go to show what most people already know: Younger generations are more embracing of social media. This does run counter however to prevailing thought that all Gen-Y and X want to do, and think it’s okay to do, is access social media in the workplace.

Impact of social media on productivity
Experts are always saying that social media can help improve productivity in the office. While this may be true, the study found that over 40% of respondents find that social media hampers productivity in the office.

You might predict that Gen-Y, with their higher levels of embracing social media, would think drastically different from other generations. However, the findings say otherwise: 49% of Baby Boomers, 44% of Gen-X and 40% of Gen-Y believe social media hinders productivity.

Impact of social media on work/personal relationships
Look a little deeper at the downsides of social media in the report and you find that slightly lower than half of all respondents, regardless of age or location, feel that mixing work and pleasure connections can cause problems in the workplace.

What do the numbers mean?
By themselves, the numbers really confirm what we already know – social media is important but the way it’s used and viewed differs enormously. Put the findings from the survey together and an interesting picture emerges. The acceptance of social media is growing, and will continue to do so younger more social media savvy generations join the workforce. Social media may be a main form of communication outside of the office, but when it comes to personal use in the office, the majority are not as comfortable with it.

While use and acceptance is growing, this report’s findings highlight that many employees still feel that social media is more of a hindrance than an improvement to the working day. This is interesting, because a decent percentage think it’s acceptable to log onto such sites in the office, while arguable knowing it causes a decrease in productivity. This is a conundrum all businesses are facing: Do we allow social media to blur the lines between work and life, or resist it? Look around, it’s plain to see it’s creeping into work and being met with mixed results.

The question this report raises, and doesn’t answer, is whether social media and its use by employees at work for personal reasons is a good idea. The truth of the matter is social media isn’t going away and reports and findings like these emphasize a need to understand how people embrace and use these platforms. From this understanding it’s essential to develop policies that everyone feels comfortable with. Above all, it shows large differences of opinion which indicates a real need for flexibility.

We’d like to know what your thoughts are on social media and how it’s currently used in your office. Do you embrace or resist? Let us know.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Related Posts

The Pros and Cons of the New Snapchat Locations Feature

Last week the internet blew up with articles about the new Snapchat locations feature. “Snap Map” now allows Snapchat users to share their location with one another. Watch the Video What does this mean for marketers using Snapchat to promote your business and engage...

Who else wants to know when to post?

Who else wants to know when to post?

A common buzzword among social media circles is, 'engagement'. According to experts, the whole reason or goal of a corporate Facebook strategy is to create engagement with loyal customers and potential ones. One of the easiest ways to do this is to create posts that...

3 common social media uses

3 common social media uses

For many small to medium businesses, social media has become an integral part of their overall business strategy. Most businesses have a presence on at least one platform, but one issue many business owners and managers struggle with is how they should be using social...

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR BUSINESS SHOULD EXPECT TO PAY
FOR HOUSTON TECH SUPPORT

Give us a call and discover how great local IT services and computer support can be!