Statistics released by comScore indicate that participation in social networking sites is growing worldwide. While growth in North America is beginning to taper off, with a growth of 9% in the past year, growth for the world as a whole is about 25%. Showing especially high growth are the Middle East/Africa, at 66%; Europe, up 35%; and Latin America, up 33%. Facebook has shown tremendous growth from June 2007 to June 2008, posting a 153% increase, toppling former champ MySpace. comScore attributes the growth to the sites striving to become more culturally relevant outside of the U.S.
Social Networking - perhaps you've heard of it before, but are not quite sure what it means.
Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small industry forums, company alumni, "communities" of interest or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most Networking with Friends schools or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users to develop friendships and business relationships, too.
When it comes to online social networking, websites are commonly used. These websites are known as social sites. Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share a common interest such as hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.
The friends that you can make are just one of the many benefits to social networking online. Another one of those benefits includes diversity because the internet gives individuals from all around the world access to social networking sites. This means that although you are in the United States, you could develop an online friendship with someone in Denmark. Not only will you make new friends, but you just might learn a thing or two about new cultures or new languages and learning is always a good thing.
As mentioned, social networking often involves grouping specific individuals or organizations together. While there are a number of social networking websites that focus on particular interests, there are others that do not. The websites without a main focus are often referred to as "traditional" social networking websites and usually have open memberships. This means that anyone can become a member, no matter what their hobbies, beliefs, or views are. However, once you are inside this online community, you can begin to create your own network of friends and eliminate members that do not share common interests or goals.
In a business setting, t’s common practice to attend a conference to meet other like-minded people in the industry, to get a job opportunity from someone you meet at a dinner party, or to find a good plumber by asking your friend who fixed his hot water system. These are all examples of connecting with someone else via your social network.
Once you've convinced yourself that you are sufficiently informed, you can begin to search for networking communities to join. This can easily be done by performing a standard internet search. Your search will likely return a number of results, including LinkedIn, eCademy, MySpace, FriendWise, FriendFinder, Yahoo! 360, Facebook, Orkut, and Classmates.
How Social Networking Applies in the Workplace
Several social networking sites like Facebook obviously target the entertainment market, but there are several legitimate applications in the workplace.
For example, you could use it to:
- Learn more about your colleagues than the corporate directory will tell you – What’s their personality? Are they into rock climbing too?
- Find the right person for a project or a secondment – Who can speak Mandarin? Who can train my team in DiSC?
- Inform your colleagues of news and events.
- Let people know what you’re working on right now.
Potential Positives
The potential positives of social networking go beyond knowledge sharing. Consider the following:
- Staff engagement - especially among the tech-savvy Gen Y’s.
- Job satisfaction - inject some fun into the work day.
- Productivity - the power of a 5-minute break.
- Collaboration – fostering a sense of community.
Potential Negatives
Wherever there are positives, there are negatives. One of the most obvious is the potential for employees to waste their work time on frivolous activities. Other concerns include:
- Privacy – Who can see your personal information?
- Security – What can they do with that information?
- Appropriate behavior – Do you really want your boss to see a photo of you drunk at your friend's party?
- Copyright – Who own the rights over that video clip you’re uploading?
So in summary, social networking, used appropriately can be an effective business tool. Like all tools, it should be
- chosen carefully
- used intelligently
- utilized safely
Happy networking!
