Should employers restrict use of social media?

11:41 19th January 2010

Employers who fail to recognise the benefits of using social media websites to promote their businesses could block their staff from using them in the future.

A report by Socitm found that 90 per cent of councils have already stopped their employees from using social media in some way, suggesting they do not believe there is any business benefit from the websites, reports Computer Weekly.

Chris Head, who wrote the report, said: "Heads of ICT need to take the lead and educate colleagues on the organisation's management team about the benefits of social media, as well as finding ways to accommodate them appropriately and safely through the corporate infrastructure."

The reluctance to embrace social media has also spread into the sporting world.

Manchester United has banned its players from using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, fearing that fans could stop visiting the club's official website if information was available elsewhere.

A club statement said no players have profiles on social media websites and that fans should be suspicious of any web pages claiming to be written by United players.

Manchester United does not have an official Twitter feed, meaning it is potentially missing out on the chance to direct users to its official site.

Sports stars have used social media before to reveal information their employers would rather keep under wraps.

Darren Bent, who has more than 30,000 followers on Twitter, used the site to complain about Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy's refusal to let him join Sunderland.

The striker got his wish eventually and sealed a transfer to the north-east club.