ABSTRACT
Social media (sometimes referred to as “social networking” or “Web 2.0”) is an integral part of people’s lives and has become a key marketing strategy for most businesses. Many companies have recognized the benefits that can be achieved through the use of social media in the workplace, including supporting the company brand, providing a forum for customer feedback, and building professional networks. A social media policy outlines for employees the company guidelines and principles for communicating in the online world. The policy is not intended to prohibit employees’ participation in social media on a personal level, but rather to provide guidelines regarding such participation in order to protect the company’s interests and minimize potential risks. Social media policies generally describe the content that may be posted to social networking websites and blogs. The potential risks associated with such social media participation by employees should be emphasized and the policy should strictly delineate what activities and content are prohibited.
