Social Networking or Notworking?

by Susan DiMickele

Social media is a syringe that sucks time out of our daily work. In fact, some companies have banned social media from the workplace altogether, and for good reason. Over half of all employees access their Facebook profiles at work, losing, on average, 15-minutes of productivity per day.

But wait. You might be surprised to hear that employees who use social media (also known as "Tworkers") also tend to be the most productive. According to one university study, employees who surf the Internet at work, including social networks, are 9% more productive than their non-Internet surfing counterparts.

[READ: Wired Magazine - "Facebook, YouTube at Work Make Better Employees"]

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you (like me) classify yourself as a Tworker. Tworkers are thinkers. Tworkers are resourceful. Tworkers know how to get it done. And everyone knows that Tworkers make better employees, right?

Maybe, maybe not. Putting aside the productivity statistics, social media use raises some ethical (and, yes, even spiritual) questions for today’s savvy worker. Here are just a few:

- Is it fair to our employers to engage in social media when we’re “on the clock”?

- For those of us who have flexible work schedules (or even work at home), does social media compromise our attention span and mental capacity?

- Are we sitting behind our computers so much that we miss out on opportunities to develop relationships with our co-workers?

- If we are always preoccupied with blogging and social media sites, do we give an appearance of impropriety, or even laziness at work?

Aside from these ethical issues, don't you ever wonder if Blogging, Facebooking and Tweeting, to be blunt, are just a huge waste of time? To be good at it, to stay connected and witty and relevant and generous with your online community, you’ve got to commit. Unless social media is your livelihood, this is time that could be better spent doing something else, like communicating with real, live people. Or finishing that project your boss asked you to do. Or getting more work done around the house.

[READ: Shane Hipps' Q Essay, "Electronic Culture and Spirituality"]

Sometimes the irony of it all smacks me right in the face. Like during a recent conference. We broke for lunch, and I couldn’t contain my glee when I learned the hotel had free wireless. Yippee! I could spend my lunch hour catching up on my blogging and even send a few Tweets! Then it dawned on me. I’m here to network with people, not sit behind a computer. What’s the best use of my time? I should probably introduce myself to that woman in the back of the room. I think I recognize her.

Reluctantly, I closed my laptop and put it away. It was time to do some real live social networking. Remember what that was like?

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Do you utilize social networking sites and tools at work, and how would you answer the questions posed above? What is your opinion on the effect it has on worker productivity?

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Editor's Note: This article was first published by TheHighCalling.org. It is reprinted here by permission. The artwork above was produced by Charles Tsevis for WIRED Magazine (UK edition).

Comments

Sandra

This was good but I wish there had been more of it. I've come to expect rigorous discussions from Q. This was just ok.

Tom

Could you please repair the link to the 9% more productive reference. I would be interested in seeing what the data show. Thank you.

I think this article was a little hard on tworkers. In my office, staff are expected to be adults. They're hired to do a job and do it well. They don't punch a clock and there are no rules about social networking and personal email, only the stated expectation that it not interfere with your work. The law says you get two 15 minute breaks twice a day but no one at our office takes that. Some take two minute breaks all day long, some take 'mental breaks', by checking personal email or Facebook, some take no breaks, and a long lunch so they can get in a bike workout. If someone's abusing the system, it becomes evident.

A person of integrity does not need office regulations to force them to keep their employer's interests at heart.

That said, I completely agree with the point about ignoring the people around you in order to connect online. There is concern out there with social networking creating a 'thought bubble' around you where you only hear your own viewpoints echoed back at you, and that is something we should each choose to balance. It is more effort to connect with a new person standing next to you than to check in with your buddies on FB, but is well worth doing.

Craig Gilman

Social Networking has taken over my entire being. It's on constantly - on my phone, my laptop and in my head. Facebook is always open whilst I work and I'm constantly making comments, liking things and listening to music via Youtube.

It's harder at work because the broadband is slower than at home! It's so easy to be distracted by interesting threads and conversations - but I'm a social animal without a large amount of social contact outside of Church and work - and working for the Diocese it can feel a bit like I'm always at Church! I have a fairly good excuse to be online all the time though. I'm the Digital Youth Adviser for the Diocese - so social networking is an integral part of my role.

Karen

I believe it is the letter of the law that kills the Spirit so if we are not abusing our worktime and making up for any loss work than I believe it is okay to socially interact at work on networks. Hopefully you are working for a Christian employer or maybe someone you can lead to the Lord with your due dilligent work ethics!

Ben

Is reading this blog while at work ironic?

Jordan

I think it goes both ways. There are definitely times we need to unplug and be there with the people we are physically with. But there is also something to say about the opportunity to reach out to others you can't physically be with on a day to day basis. And those people you are socially networking with online are real people as well. So I think it's like anything else we need to have balance. Put the phone away and spend time with your kids, do your work etc... But it's also great to interact with people you have never met, or already know but no longer live near.

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