Leader: Should you ban Facebook?

The rise and rise of social networking phenomenon Facebook has put the spotlight on how businesses should monitor and respond to staff use of such sites during the working day.

"It's just a fad," maybe a common response to putting in a social networking policy but a recent silicon.com CIO Jury suggested IT chiefs are cracking down on Facebook fun with two-thirds of the 12-strong IT user panel saying they have banned or restricted employee access to Facebook and similar websites in the workplace.

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These bans have been forced because of the serious business consequences of large numbers of staff all using sites such as Facebook, rather than employers simply trying to stop staff engaging in any non-work activities while on the job. For example, CIO Jury member and CTO at 192.com, Paul Broome said Facebook has been banned completely in his organisation after it was discovered the add-on applications used by those on Facebook were taking 40 per cent of the company's available internet connection.

Despite half of businesses restricting employee access to Facebook, blanket bans aren't the only option available.

Some employers are looking to give staff access to a whole host of web 2.0 fodder - such as MySpace, and YouTube - on special PCs in communal staff areas, which can only be used on breaks and during lunchtime.

It comes down to getting the balance right because anyone trying to keep these social media technologies out of the corporate environment is going to be fighting a losing battle. A recent survey found the web 2.0 generation expects technologies such as instant messaging, social networking and webcams to be welcomed in the workplace. Indeed, it isn't just about people organising their social lives and catching up with old schoolfriends. In many organisations Facebook is replacing email and being used as an effective collaboration tool.

Either way, organisations and those in charge of policing network access need to sort out their stance on social networking and communicate that to staff.

Failure to educate staff on what is acceptable, what isn't, why it isn't and what action will be taken in the event of excessive use of such web 2.0 sites can expose a company to a whole host of security and productivity problems.

The TUC trade union has also urged bosses to get more Facebook-savvy and said not enough companies are clear about what they expect from staff in terms of their personal conduct when using social networking sites.

Such bans may be frustrating for staff and employers alike, but so are the consequences of letting 'Crackbook' addict employees roam free on Facebook when they should be knuckling down to work.