The Big Secret’s Out (I Guess): People Use the Internet at Work

A new study produced by Clearswift shows that lots of people use “social media” and “web 2.0″ sites at work. In fact, we’re told that “87% of office workers access web 2.0 sites each week.”

The implication of the study is that businesses should take note of “red flags” such as people spending too much time on non-work related tasks and the potential for “data leaks” (in the e-roof, I guess?).

I’ve got some issues with this study and its analysis as presented by Clearswift. First of all, I’d love to learn how they define social media and web 2.0 sites as compared to the rest of the Internet. In fact, the Internet is social media: it’s an interactive medium. Every time you hit that keyboard or click that mouse on a website, wham-o, you’ve just entered social media-land. That’s so web 2.0, you want to say. And you should. But not out loud, please.

Secondly, didn’t we already know that people spend lots of time goofing off at work in front of a computer? Does MySpace really provide the extra excuse people need to not put a cover sheet on the old TPS reports? In fact, if people want to screw around and not work, there is any number of ways that they can do it. Remember how you always used to see bored secretaries playing Solitaire and Mindsweeper?

In terms of “data leaks,” this comes down to common sense more than anything. Tom from MySpace and the fellas on your Fantasy Football message board aren’t trying to manipulate you out of the Great Secret Project that your company is building. “Social media” websites don’t play greatly into the equation. Either you have a good sense of what and what not to reveal about your personal life and your workplace, in real life or in front of a computer screen, or you don’t.

I’m being slightly tongue-in-cheek here. There are doubtless sensitive situations that come up when an employee engages in business-related discussions within a publicly viewable web environment. This collaboration with colleagues is doubtless largely a boon for the employee’s knowledge base and therefore benefits the organization.

So I would think that instead of laying down the hammer and restricting Internet access in the workplace, a short memo from the brass to the note of think before you type and try to give the Facebook and the Twitter and the AIM a break every now and again, we may be watching, ha ha ha, cough cough cough would be much more appropriate, and really better serves long term interests all around.

Web Worker Daily (which uses the coolest Soviet-looking font ever in its header) provides some good and practical tips for laying off the ADD-vortex of the Internet, including setting aside blocks of time for e-mail, and allowing yourself the right to lay off registering for yet another site “just because all the cool kids are doing it.”

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12 Responses to “The Big Secret’s Out (I Guess): People Use the Internet at Work”

  1. Mat Brewster Says:

    Welcome oh great cultist. I must be elite or something, because myspaceTom is always hitting me up for company secrets.

    “give me the secret formula” he says, “i’ll give you all my friends.”

    Sneaky bastard.

  2. Tester Says:

    Thanks Mat!

    That rascally Tom, he’s always up to A-vil.

  3. Eric Berlin Says:

    Actually that comment wasn’t from tester, was from me :-).

    Still working out the bugs on the OMC (read = I’m learning to be less silly about things).

  4. Mat Brewster Says:

    Yeah, I kind of figured it was from you! Just don’t stop being silly about everything.

  5. Eric Berlin Says:

    I will endeavor to create a delightful balance.

  6. Josh Says:

    Eric, I love the Office Space reference and the site. I’m looking forward to seeing this site grow and become the Master of Web 2.0.

  7. Eric Berlin Says:

    Thanks very much man, much appreciated!

    There was much hilarity the other day when someone at my office (space) walked around mock-slamming official-looking TPS Reports (with official Initech logo at top) on desks.

  8. Lisa Says:

    Nice looking place you’ve got here, EB. I guess I’ll have to start hanging around now.

    I don’t believe people use the interwebs at work. That would just be… wrong.

  9. Eric Berlin Says:

    (In the voice of the creepy old woman in The Princess Bride): LIAR!

    Thanks so much Lisa, please stop on by anytime!

  10. Mary K. Williams Says:

    Very very nice Eric.
    1. nice looking site. It gives the appearance that you sort of know what you’re doing. Imagine!

    2. Yeah, I loved the Office Space reference too.

    3. Ditto Princess Bride. Quite the Renaissance Man, nearly.

    4. On balance, Remember the yin yang. ::bowing::

    To wrap up:

    You are rocking!

  11. Eric Berlin Says:

    1. Thanks Mary (and let’s keep the truth between you and me)!

    2. & 3. Watched too much TV growing up, and still do.

    4. Yeah, my moms always says “moderation in everything.” She’s a smart lady.

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