Social media - no knee-jerks needed
Jinfo Blog

By Tim Buckley Owen

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We probably shouldn’t be too surprised that the number of online defamation cases seems to have rocketed thanks to social networking. But simply blocking its use at work looks like throwing the baby out with the bathwater – even if some employees might think it’s a good idea.

According to recent research from legal publisher Sweet & Maxwell, the number of court cases in England and Wales alleging defamation on the internet has doubled over the past year. It points to the growth of social media as the cause, with Korieh Duodu, co-author of Sweet’s Defamation Law, Procedure and Practice suggesting that this could present a “huge problem” for businesses and individuals trying to protect their reputation (widely reported – see for example The Lawyer, Solicitor’s Journal or Journalism.co.uk).

No wonder, then, that businesses seem to be taking the threat so seriously. The 2011 WorkLifeWeb report from information security company Clearswift (registration required) finds that security concerns are hampering the adoption of collaborative technologies, with more bosses blocking and monitoring employees’ online activity, reducing levels of trust in workers to use the internet responsibly.

What’s more, some employees even seem to support them. A further survey – commissioned by financial and risk consultancy Protiviti this time – finds that one in six United Kingdom employees consider social networking a major risk to corporate security, and three in ten a risk to themselves personally.

But hang on a minute: that doubling in online defamation litigation represents an increase from a paltry seven cases last year to just 16 now. And although almost 70% of the managers do say they monitor employee internet activity, and well over half actually block access to particular social networks, 80% of them also see business benefits from the new social web.

Employees, too, seem not to want protection from the perceived dangers of social media but guidance on how to use them appropriately. Nevertheless almost a third apparently reckon that security is entirely the boss’s responsibility.

So perhaps some new advice from the UK’s Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service might help. Based on research commissioned from the Institute for Employment Studies, ACAS has drawn up some useful factsheets on managing the impact of social networking on things like discipline, bullying, defamation and privacy.

Even though social media interaction is fast and permanent, don’t be tempted into a knee-jerk disciplinary response, ACAS advises. But if your bosses (or colleagues) still baulk at its use despite the benefits, you could always try circumventing the system by bringing your own kit into work.

That’s exactly what the Register newsletter aims to survey at the moment. Lots of people think it’s a great idea, apparently – but others are saying “over my dead body”.

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