Community Engagement & Your PLN (Blog 6)

How does social media engage communications?

Social media engagement is a measure of how people are interacting with your social media accounts and content. The phrase can refer to a wide range of behaviours on all social media sites. Employees can use social media as a strong communication tool to cooperate, exchange ideas, and resolve issues. According to research, 82% of workers believe social media may enhance workplace relationships and 60% think it can help in decision-making. Because of these convictions, the majority of employees use social media to communicate with coworkers—even during working hours.

How does social media challenge communications?

Social media users frequently grow engrossed in it because they may amuse themselves with images, postings, and videos from all over the world. They consequently desire to use it more and finally develop an addiction to it. As a result, social media addicts are more likely than other workers to work at a somewhat slower and sloppier pace. They also have a propensity to become distracted, which results in more errors and worse overall corporate productivity. Employees should be cautious about how much time they spend on social media in order to avoid this. Businesses often fear that social media is a productivity killer; according to reports, more than half of U.S. firms restrict access to social media at work. In my research with 277 workers of a healthcare firm, I discovered that these worries were unfounded. Social networking has a significantly greater impact on employee retention than it does on productivity.

Does your PLN amplify the views of others? 

Your Personal Learning Network (PLN) can certainly amplify the views of others, as it is a network of individuals and resources that you use to learn and gather information. Depending on the nature of your PLN, you may be exposed to a variety of ideas and viewpoints that might help you get a better knowledge of a specific topic or issue. If you routinely interact with individuals or communities in your PLN who express their thoughts, opinions, and ideas, your PLN may be able to magnify those perspectives. Also, if you post material or engage in discussions that coincide with a certain position or perspective, your PLN may assist to magnify that as well. It is crucial to remember that the variety of your PLN might influence the breadth of perspectives and beliefs to which you are exposed. You may guarantee that your PLN is widening your thinking and questioning your preconceptions rather than reinforcing a restricted viewpoint by deliberately searching out a diversity of sources and opinions.

The policies of employer social media communication expectations. 

Several organizations have social media communication policies in place that describe their expectations for how workers should behave on social media sites. These rules usually attempt to preserve the company’s reputation, intellectual property, and sensitive information, as well as to guarantee that workers’ social media behaviour is in line with the company’s values and standards. Employees should not reveal sensitive or proprietary information on social media, including facts about clients, customers, or the company’s activities, according to some standard regulations and guidelines that companies may include in their social media communication expectations. Workers should avoid using improper or offensive language, making negative comments about colleagues, or engaging in online harassment or bullying. Workers must follow social media rules and regulations, particularly those governing data privacy and intellectual property. Workers should avoid engaging in activities or uploading information that may clash with their job obligations or harm the company’s interests. Employees must carefully understand and adhere to their employer’s social media communication standards in order to avoid undesirable repercussions such as disciplinary action or termination. If an employee is unclear if a particular social media activity is suitable or in accordance with business policy, they should seek clarification from their employer or human resources department.