Social Media – Work or Private?

These days we are inundated with electronic communications.

Blog-sites, Myspace, Facebook, Linked In, Twitter…and hundreds of other social networks, apps and communication platforms. Businesses extensively use social network technology as a promotional tool to “get the word out”.

The ability to send a message, image or sound, even video – instantaneously to hundreds or even thousands of individuals is a mighty powerful tool. But as is so often the case with powerful tools, they can be very dangerous too.

It is important to remember that, given the widespread access to social media and various platforms, what you and your employees say can and does reflect on your business. Anything posted by your employees may have legal implications on your company.

Your business could end up being liable for defamation, breach of confidentiality or privacy, or it could simply lose business if clients perceive your staff to be ill-disciplined on social media.

The fact is that the dividing line between the personal and business world has now well and truly disappeared. The workplace is no longer confined to the office desk and nor is it limited by the hours of 9.00 to 5.00.

In addition to the liabilities that might flow form the inappropriate use of social media, it is well known that Australian business loses a huge amount in productivity because of staff spending their days tweeting and Facebooking, instead of applying themselves to work.

Having an up-to-date IT and Social Media company policy and ensuring that your employees receive regular training and information may be vital to your business, may help avoid liability and may improve productivity.