In many ways, social media has become the latest "devil around the corner." Notice your kids falling behind in school? It’s because they’re spending too much time on Facebook. See your employees slacking off at work? It’s because they’re too distracted by their phones.
Whatever the issue, somehow, the internet always gets the blame. And in some cases, it’s not entirely off-base. Research shows that endless scrolling on social media can result in significant time wasted, negatively impacting productivity and even financial outcomes.
But is social media truly as detrimental as it’s often portrayed, or is it simply being used as a scapegoat for deeper, more complex issues? While we can’t speak for every situation, we’ve done a deep dive into how social media affects workplace productivity—and here’s what we found!
The Good
Even though you’re most probably here to witness us drill down on social media usage, let’s start with the good part. Social media does require a lot of discipline, but once you master it, it’s a tool that can work heavily in your favor. Companies that have used social media the right way have managed to turn things around in their favor. But how do you do that?
- Better collaboration and teamwork: Social media is one of the biggest tools for facilitating employee communication and bringing everyone on the same page. Instead of manually passing the message around, have your team be on the same Trello board or the same Slack Team so everyone can see who is responsible for what and when.
- Better organization and efficiency: Instead of holding lengthy meetings or drafting complex emails for every issue, social media tools can improve team efficiency. Everyone can be on the same page at the same time, with there being no room for error.
- Audience connection: Social media websites are about so much more than just posting aesthetic shots of your products. Modern marketing tactics allow brands to connect with their audiences in a much more personalized manner. Think of brands like Duolingo, which have managed to craft a specific social media persona, mainly driven by memes and humorous posts. It’s almost like the account is being run by a personality, not by a company. You can also use social media to celebrate your team in creative ways, helping your employees feel appreciated and valued.
- Increased hiring reach: By building a unique social media personality, you don’t just attract customers; you also attract employees. When people connect with your brand’s mission, they feel inclined to work for your team. This way, you can connect with individuals who may be a better fit for your team, as they’ve already received an authentic look into how your brand perceives itself and what it’s striving to be.
- Better customer support: Employees can leverage social media to provide wider customer support to all sorts of consumers. They can solve general queries, do FAQ sessions, and hear directly from their consumers. They can also share client testimonials to encourage other consumers to engage with the brand.
The Bad
While many want to paint social media as the villain, in some ways, it is. Some of your productivity may also be going down the drain when it comes to social media usage, and here’s how:
- Falling into the trap of ‘LinkedIn Productivity’: LinkedIn is a platform that thrives on making everything sound bigger than it is, and this can trap employees in a vicious cycle. Instead of achieving actual goals, people may be more concerned with doing stuff that can be glamorized in a LinkedIn post or that will get them likes from their network.
- Distraction: This needs no explanation. Social media is one of the biggest sources of distractions among employees, especially during working hours.
- Fear of competition: Social media is a consistent form of competition amongst various brands. In trying to compete with everyone, some brands end up losing their unique touch, working too hard to be like everyone else. In this way, social media can often negatively impact branding.
- Security risks: This is the darker side of social media usage, but it does pose certain safety threats to a company. Employees may accidentally leak confidential information on social media. They can also be targeted by malware or other malicious hacking software. Sometimes, employees may accidentally use company accounts to post private tweets, which can tarnish the company’s image.
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What Is Killing Workplace Productivity?
Social media is just one element; there may be other silent killers after your workplace efficiency. Apart from the internet, here are a few common culprits companies should be on the lookout for:
| Reason | Detail |
| Bad leadership | Incompetent management and leadership are some of the primary causes behind the lack of productivity in employee circles. |
| Inefficient technology | Just like social media can cause harm, outdated technology can also pose a threat to productivity. |
| Toxic employee culture | Some companies are built on toxic relationships amongst staff, which can be quite detrimental to the work being done. If your employees don’t feel safe in the office, they won’t feel any inclination to deliver beyond the absolute necessities. |
| Feelings of worthlessness | If employees don’t receive enough appreciation for their work, they may lose the motivation to deliver their best. Workers need to see their value both in monetary terms and in the form of other rewards within the workplace. |
| Lack of training | Many companies skip out on training their employees to stay up-to-date with new developments in their industry. This is one of the biggest causes behind companies becoming redundant and irrelevant. |
Final Thoughts
Social media is often painted as a pitfall, but not everything is wrong about it. If companies leverage it the right way while also training their employees on pertinent social media usage, it can work wonders for brand value. On the other hand, if employers become negligent regarding the impacts of social media, it can result in quite a few dangers for the company.
As a concept, social media is neither an ideal companion nor a disaster to be avoided. How social media impacts your particular workplace largely comes down to how you utilize the internet and what regulations you build up around it. There is something positive for every company to take away from social platforms; you just have to find a way to tap into that potential!
