Restricting social media usage at work is sometimes done out of fear. “We don’t want our staff to be distracted.” And: “They shouldn’t waste their time on social media.” Other understandable reasons may include perceived cyber risks or the cost of excess data usage.
An organisation that blocks social media sites may send out one or more of the following messages:
- We don’t trust our staff
- We don’t really understand what social media is all about
- Even though consumers are using social media for health purposes, we’re not really interested
In most cases decision makers are probably unfamiliar with social media and may see it as a threat.
Why staff should have access
Here are five reasons why health care staff should have access to sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Blogs etc:
- Social networks are powerful learning tools for staff
- Social media are increasingly used as health promotion tools (such as embedded YouTube videos)
- Shared knowledge accessible via social media will assist staff in finding answers and making decisions
- Interactions with peers and thought leaders can increase work satisfaction (and will contribute to staff retention)
- Participating in social media and other new technologies will raise the (inter)national profile of an organisation
When it comes to cyber security, I believe there are alternatives that are more effective than blocking social media access including upgrading and updating operating systems, updating antivirus software, improving backup procedures, clever password management and online safety training for staff.
A simple social media staff policy also goes a long way.
you’ve raised some very valid points and I hope in the near future, more companies will start opening up and considering the impact of social media, even if it’s just a welcomed ‘distraction’.
thankfully I practice in the online marketing field and there’s simply no way any online marketing company can block SM sites/platforms 🙂
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Thanks & agree, we need more organisations on SoMe!
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I couldn’t agree more Edwin – particularly the points you raise about the message this sends out about an organization. The healthcare conversations that matter are increasingly moving online. To quote Farris Timimi, M.D., medical director for the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media: “This isn’t an addition to your job. This is part of your job. This is a conversation, and that is what we are trained to do … This is where our patients are these days and this is where we need to reach them. We can engage learners, patients and peers, and we are not limited by geography or time”
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That’s a beautiful quote Marie, thanks for sharing.
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Reblogged this on Health Care Social Media Monitor.
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Thank you for your great thoughts! I agree totally with it!
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