October 17, 2011
Each month, new research springs up demonstrating UK businesses’ ignorance to social media risks. October is no different. This week, one leading law firm found that just 25% of companies have a dedicated social media policy.
The research shows that less than half (43%) of organisations have developed policies around sites such as Facebook and Twitter as part of a broader HR or IT strategy.
Yet such widespread lack of appropriate measures has not come without warning. 31% of those surveyed have taken disciplinary action against employees posting comments on their employer through social networks.
"The rise of social media in the early 2000s has changed business attitudes to communication, but with this new opportunity also comes new risk,” commented Kate Hodgkiss.
"The study highlights that many are failing to protect themselves against the legal ramifications, as social networking practices outpace business policies. The research also highlights the growing need for a definitive social media policy which is regularly assessed and updated."
However, the consequences of social media are not always negative. Many companies are also taking advantage of social media for their own purposes, with 65% encouraging its use for work-related activities, to building brand awareness, marketing efficiently and recruitment new employees.
"There is widespread recognition that social media is not just a tool for marketing, but something that needs to be considered by all aspects of a business, from HR to risk to the upper echelons of corporate management," added Hodgkiss.
"Our respondents recognised the benefits of social media to get their messages out to a wide audience at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods and far more quickly."
