Why Do Some Corporate IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn?
- Image by Transguyjay via Flickr
Every time I present at a professional association, I am reminded by some of my attendees that they cannot access LinkedIn or other social media sites at their work. And it always surprises me. I always end up teaming up with those wanting to convince their superiors that, with the proper rules, they should be embracing selective social media sites. And the root of the problem seems to be the same: their superiors just don’t seem to fully understand the various sites that are out there or are taking knee-jerk responses to something reported in the media. It reminds me of when the Internet first started and access at the workplace was restricted…of course, over time that restriction was lifted and I feel it will be the same for most social media sites as well.
First of all, let’s look at each of the “Big Three” social media sites and discuss whether or not it makes sense for corporations to block them. And I will conclude with the question of this blog post: why do corporate IT departments continue to block LinkedIn?
But before I even begin talking about each site, I wanted to remind everyone that social networking sites aren’t just for socializing: social media is also where people are increasingly going to look for information these days. While one can debate that people are looking for more information on Facebook than Google despite the amount of time spent on Facebook has far surpassed that of Google, can anyone argue against the fact that Twitter has now become a real-time search engine superior to Google?
So let’s start with Twitter. Why should IT NOT block Twitter? Let’s look at the ways corporations use Twitter now: brand management, customer support, business development, marketing…blocking access to Twitter can stifle your company’s growth and innovation. And if your company can’t monitor Twitter, who will monitor the conversations that are being had for them?
I would agree that there is more socializing going on on Facebook than on other sites. However, many businesses have discovered that there is business to be found on Facebook, and now we see growth both in the number of corporate fan pages (sorry I couldn’t find the stats on this) as well as the fact that more than 10 million users join Facebook fan pages each day. As with Twitter, if IT will not allow their employees to monitor these conversations, things could get out of control and adversely affect that company.
LinkedIn is fundamentally different from Twitter and Facebook in that it is a site for professionals (LinkedIn People) and businesses (LinkedIn Companies) rather than for “socializing”. I like to refer to LinkedIn as the default yellow pages that professionals and businesses MUST be on in order to be found. Why would IT departments block access then? The only feasible reason I have heard is that there is a fear that their employees will spend time on LinkedIn looking for a job. And anyone who has been on LinkedIn realizes that this is a poor excuse. Before LinkedIn, recruiters were still able to cold-call and reach you at your office. With the advent of the Social Web it is getting easier and easier to find people just because of the plethora of profile and other information out there. Limiting usage of LinkedIn is like preventing your employees from attending industry exhibitions or going to professional seminars. In my eyes, LinkedIn is the same thing, one big room of 50 million people that allow participants to develop business, find partners, recruit talent, join professional communities, and find answers to business problems. Why would IT want to stifle these fundamental vital aspects of business?
Some people will read this and just say, “Well, why don’t we just restrict access to certain departments instead?” This approach sounds reasonable at first, but with the growth of the social web, are there any parts of an organization that won’t be affected by social media in the near future? I think not. So restriction by IT is not the issue: a crisp social media policy on how employees can use the social web responsibly and enforcement of it is where companies should be trying to control things is the solution. It is no different than usage of the Internet in general: Companies have much more to lose by restricting access than to gain.
Would love to hear your comments on this. What has your experience been?
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Neal Schaffer is recognized as a leader in helping businesses and professionals embrace and strategically leverage the potential of social media. An award-winning published author, frequent speaker at social media events, and an avid blogger, Neal is President of 
Comments
I totally agree with you, I was amazed to learn that the state of California was blocking access to LinkedIn, that includes all EDD offices which in turn block job seekers to access LinkedIn at EDD facilities. IT departments are taking the easy way, they do not understand social media, fear it, fear that social media will open their networks to infections. social media is a company wide mentality, the different departments that can benefit from social media need to sit down with IT, set up policies and open the doors, IT can them mitigate risks, they should not inhibit technologies that have shown to be beneficial.
I wonder what would happen if IT decided to shut down telephone lines because employees might use them for personal conversations, or shut down email because of the risk of infections or becausze employees might use it for personal purpose.
Social media is still misunderstood, the way email and the internet once were. Where would we be if email and/or internet had been banned from companies… some food for thought.
Thanks for your comment, Philippe, and I have also found that government agencies have been even more conservative than businesses. Also agree on your final point on what if we banned emails, internet, even the cell phone from businesses. Either way, I believe this is only a temporary side-effect of a new technology misunderstood by some but here to stay for everyone.
Why Do Some Corporate IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn?:
Image by Transguyjay via Flickr.. http://bit.ly/CWoea
#SocialMedia
Why Do Some Corporate IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn?:
Image by Transguyjay via Flickr.. http://bit.ly/CWoea
#SocialMedia
RT @WindmillNet: Why Do Some Corp IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn?: http://bit.ly/CWoea #SocialMedia
RT @WindmillNet: Why Do Some Corp IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn?: http://bit.ly/CWoea #SocialMedia
RT @NealSchaffer: Why Do Some Corporate IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn? http://ping.fm/CZ8uu
RT @NealSchaffer: Why Do Some Corporate IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn? http://ping.fm/CZ8uu
I attempted to retweet this story, but Twitter said the URL pointed to the wrong story. Maybe his company is blocking access.
I absolutely agree with Neil on this; and it's ironic, too, because senior managers use the same networks at work to gain information about potential job candidates. I blogged about this myself about a month ago. As always, organizations practice double standards.
Dr Bruce Hoag, CPsychol
http://www.p-advantage.com
I experience this first hand – I have to post my comment as a guest because I can't log into my FB or Twitter ID since they are blocked at work! Luckily I have access to LinkedIn but I cannot send messages or emails to other LinkedIn users — those components are blocked. My company is VERY conservative and heavily regulated, therefore the panic response is to block all external email (cannot access any external email at work and must resort to using work email for personal business that must be conducted during biz hours – that makes no sense) and social media. It can be very frustrating.
RT @NealSchaffer: Does your company block your using social networking sites like LinkedIn? Why? http://budurl.com/neal89 #socialmedia
RT @NealSchaffer: Does your company block your using social networking sites like LinkedIn? Why? http://budurl.com/neal89 #socialmedia
RT @NealSchaffer: Does your company block your using social networking sites like LinkedIn? Why? http://budurl.com/neal89 #socialmedia
RT @NealSchaffer: Does your company block your using social networking sites like LinkedIn? Why? http://budurl.com/neal89
RT @CarolineSlomski RT @NealSchaffer Does your company block your using social networking sites like LinkedIn? Why? http://budurl.com/neal89
RT @nealschaffer Why Do Some Corporate IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn? http://retwt.me/1vk9u
You nailed it Neal. The only other problem related to social networking sites for regulated companies is the need to restrict access to e-mail. Seriously SEC, let's get with it. With the advent of smart cell phones, more non-public information can get leak much easier than having access to in-mail on linkedin.
RT @NealSchaffer: Does your company block your using social networking sites like LinkedIn? Why? http://budurl.com/neal89 #socialmedia
Hey Bruce, that is an interesting error which I have never seen before so hard to say what the root cause could be.
That's also an interesting point you make about the double standard: I would agree that it exists as well and is quite hypocritical…
Thanks for your contribution to the conversation!
It's all very counter productive, isn't it? because at the end of the day we will be using the Social Web not just for communicating but for also finding relevant information. Your companies and others who continue to block this flow of information will suffer the consequences…
Agree with you there Kathy. It's time for the SEC to smell the coffee and wake up to the Web 2.0 World that we live in!
There are some valid reasons why the large corporations stay away form social sites. In the case of LinkedIn, recently LinkedIn has been a magnet for businesses who are just out to fill an email database so they can promote some product or service that is of no interest to anyone, especially large corporations. This could be said for all social networks that are not controlled, but in the case of LinkedIn, who premise is to house a database of business people, it is a shame it has become such a draw for these email farmers since it is probably one of the only social networks that large firms would embrace as a tool to finding business connections and potential employees. Oh, the price we pay to be spammed.
Scot, that is a valid point. But the only way the spammers can get control of your email address is if you connect with them. Plus, they will only spam the email address that you have on record, which you have the freedom to customize as you see fit. I agree 100% of the spam issue, but there is spam everywhere, not just on LinkedIn, and I feel that the benefits far outweigh the potential spamming.
Well said… those who want to use Linkedin, will.
Home, office, friends house
Good post – IT should NOT block Linkedin, as we people learn from others (think Q&A section and group participation!)
Shortcut to this article: http://tinyurl.com/WhyBlock
- Steven Burda
Great to see you here again Steven! Indeed LinkedIn is a wealth of resources for any company and should be recognized as such.
RT @pattyfarmer: Why Do Some Corporate IT Departments Continue to Block LinkedIn?http://bit.ly/WE5hv BECAUSE OF THE SPAM
With Android/iPhone/Blackberry etc devices this point is becoming moot.
With Android/iPhone/Blackberry etc devices this point is becoming moot.