There has been the emergence of social media such as Facebook, and this has enabled individuals to share their personal information freely. Users are free to control the information they share and control whoever sees that information. Facebook has added several features to its privacy settings since its establishment and this has increased the levels of privacy among individuals. There are different advantages that are associated with the freedom of sharing information, as there are disadvantages. Currently, organizations have maximized on the use of social media in promoting businesses hence enabling firms to increase their market presence and profitability. The social media can either ruin, or build a company depending on the manner used. With the increase in social media, firms are becoming stricter in how employees use social media platforms. Most firms have discouraged the use of company assets such as computers and network to access social media platforms. Some companies have policies that prohibit employees from accessing social media platforms when at work.
Facebook has been considered to be one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. There are several users of Facebook who share information that they would like to share. Privacy has become an issue in the social media platforms, and companies work to ensure that the privacy of individuals is upheld as they go about sharing their personal information (Haumann, 2015). Individuals are free to choose whoever views information that they share. There are positive aspects of privacy, and these include the fact that privacy enables individuals to be independent, more creative, and freer. Privacy also ensures that there is protection and non-violation of information. On the other hand, there are negative aspects of privacy including the fact that it leads to exploitation, establishes inequalities, promotes secrecy, and inhibits transparency. Individuals, therefore, need to be able to know the extent to which they should go when it comes to privacy.
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Research shows that people are more confident in sharing their personal information on social media with the people who do not know them instead of sharing it with people who they know (Haumann, 2015). This has made people opt to share more personal information regarding their lives mostly in the social media than they do it personally. However, individuals have the right to post information that they want on social media as long as it does not affect the third party. Currently, social media platforms are becoming keen on what people post on their social media accounts, and this means that any posts that are predicted to affect the third party are pulled down. There is an option that allows social media users to report any information that invades their privacy. This approach ensures that whatever is posted on Facebook does not affect the privacy of others.
Employee privacy is an essential concept that most organizations respect and that does not interfere with it. However, it is vital that employees also uphold the privacy of a company and that they do not share rampant information that is considered to be private to the firm. Most companies discourage employees from sharing information that will negatively affect the company. Notably, most companies have their own social media websites whereby they share their information, and it is here that customers and employees are allowed to share their experiences freely. Customers can air their complaints through these social media platforms, and the company can then work on them. Human resource departments have gone ahead to establish policies that prohibit individuals from using the company’s equipment and resources to browse during working hours.
In a case where an employee is posting information that may be damaging to a company, it is crucial that the employee becomes aware that this is prohibited. In as much as the right of confidentiality is provided for in the workplace, there is always a need to regulate the information shared, especially if it is damaging to a firm. Facebook has enabled coworkers to be friends and to share their views freely. Customers assume that whatever workers share about a company portrays the company image, and any negative remarks from an employee give customers a negative perspective of a firm. If an employee posts damaging information about a firm, the first step to take as an individual would be to approach the person and let them know that the information they shared is damaging. It will be important to explain to them the consequences that the information shared would have on the company and on them in case the human resources department discovers that. In case they do not pull down the post, it would then be wise to follow the right channels to ensure that the mistake does not happen again.
In conclusion, the issue of privacy when it comes to using of social media is complicated. In as much as the confidentiality of individuals’ posting their personal information should be upheld, it is also important to consider the effect that such information would have on the third party. Companies do not interfere with employees’ privacy but have established rules and regulations that govern how the employees use social media platforms. Most firms do not allow employees to use the company’s equipment and resources to access their social media accounts. Employees should be responsible when it comes to information they share as most firms prohibit its employees from sharing damaging information about the firm.
References
Haumann, M. (2015). Social Media & Privacy: A Facebook Case Study. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294836170_Social_Media_Privacy_A_Facebook_Case_Study
