How Social Media Has Modified Modern Workplaces

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Social media arrived with the onset of modern technology as advancements in mobile devices and internet sharing took over the world. Social media across a variety of platforms has undoubtedly been the center of societal interactions over the last 20 years, and it looks like it is not going anywhere with new apps arriving every day. Studies over the past two decades have explored the many advantages and disadvantages of utilizing social media apps for workplace interactions and you will not believe what they have found. Many businesses have several incorporated social media platforms as the modern consumer targets are major users across the internet. 

The route of social media is to help people connect and communicate easily, without requiring face to face interactions. The associated apps have since evolved into major sharing networks that influence collaboration among colleagues, organizational learning, general communications, and public relations. Social media has not been incorporated universally however, and many corporations make efforts to minimize their presence in the workplace. Younger generations essentially grew up on social media and have learned how to incorporate it into their daily lives, so there is a generational divide between new workers entering the workforce and those that shaped it. 

Utilization of Social Media in the Workplace

Regardless of the opinions of older generations in the workplace, social media is an integral part of modern business and marketing that cannot be ignored. Tactics vary between employers but a common method is to strategically limit access to social media, focusing on apps that influence collaboration without providing distractions. Limitations that can benefit employees are private access only for company members, and private areas that can be focused on specific work projects. 

Pros:

  • Allows and facilitates mental outlets for employees. 

  • Improve employee engagement.

  • Improve employee accessibility. 

  • Strengthens team bonding and workplace relationships. 

Cons:

  • Potential to decrease productivity. 

  • Distractions

  • Social media reputational significance.

Surveys in modern corporations suggest that 82 percent of employees think social media belongs in the workplace and can significantly aid their roles. There are many pros to utilizing social media including providing a much needed mental break. Social media can provide people a method of escape into the digital world without having to physically remove themselves from the workplace. Another benefit is employee morale as access to social platforms can increase satisfaction, attention, and engagement while at work. The idea is to empower employees to take responsibility for the time they spend on social media as the employer trusts them with the access. Social media is also one of the easiest ways to promote work culture and encourage employees to connect personally with eachother even after work. These benefits can change workplace atmospheres drastically, but there can always be too much of a good thing.

There are several negative connotations that accompany the many benefits of incorporating social platforms into daily work spaces. Average time spent on social media often surpasses two-and-a-half hours every day. Even if an employee only spends half of this average scrolling online they are wasting valuable time on the clock. So much content is uploaded every minute that it can be easy to fall into a metaphorical hole of information online. Social media is a part of our everyday lives and reputations whether we like it or not, and that can be easily misinterpreted when everything posted online is so subjective. In today’s cancel culture society, employers and employees need to be extra careful what information they post online. Even personal information shared by employees can be easily traced back to the employer if mismanaged. 

Manipulating Social Media to Benefit the Workplace

Studies suggest that there are many benefits to incorporating social media however, the definition of use needs to be clearly defined otherwise it is easy to be affected by the negative implications. Employers can easily manipulate many application platforms to customize their employees' use while at work, or on specific projects. Many apps have business profiles that can be privatized to specific company members, teams, and campaigns. Studies suggest productivity using social media increases when interacting with fellow employees, but will significantly decrease when interaction with users outside of the company interface. Interactions between employees promote data sharing, idea development, and team bonding. Interactions with outside influences unfortunately promote distraction and decreased productivity. 

A healthy alternative to open use of social media while at work gives the company control over the areas of an application accessible by employees. Modifying the boundaries and access of certain apps can limit the risk of distractions imposed on employees while preserving the vital benefits of these platforms. Top applications being utilized by workplaces in America include Slack, Notion, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Microsoft Teams, and the list goes on. These apps allow employees to communicate instantaneously and share data, projects, ideas, concerns, and more from the comfort of their desks or computers. 

With the onset of the mass movement to remote or hybrid work environments, the utilization of digital socialized interaction is imperative if a company wishes to preserve its cultural identity. Modern digital footprints are vital if companies want to reach the widest demographic possible, and that begins with internal accessibility. By facilitating social interactions first with employees the transition to external collaborations will be much more seamless.