OK I was wrong.
Posted by Phil Edwards on February 21, 2010
I never thought social networking would catch on. I’m happy to admit that I got it wrong.
Some years ago I was discussing with a colleague the merits of social networking and was struggling to understand what it was all about. As he tried to explain to me the intricacies of the still to emerge technology, I poo pooed it, by stating that people just wouldn’t share what was in their heads. After all knowledge was power right?
Why would anyone share their knowledge and skills with anyone else for free? And why on earth would anybody decide to tell the on-line world what they were doing or thinking whenever they felt like it? “Nonsense”, I shouted, as I went off back into my shell. “Never work” I cried.
But of course, time has proved me wrong. Facebook and mySpace took the world by storm, swiftly followed by Twitter, plus numerous other social media outlets. Crikey now we’ve all got accounts and blogs (well except the bloke who sits opposite me at work and I have to tell him about parties that he’s about to miss out on, because he doesn’t use anything other than the phone, text and email) and a number of other ways of keeping in touch with others virtually. And we can share it instantaneously with whoever wishes to read/view/listen by pressing a button.
It’s also bought us access to loads of stuff we wouldn’t have thought possible a few years ago. As I write this I’m listening to an album that I know I’ve got on LP, but can’t be bothered to go and dig out of my (John Peel like) library, so I’ve tuned into Spotify, and there it is in all its glory. Be Bop Deluxe “Sunburst Finish” since you ask. Great band. Great cover. You can find it at………….oh you know where.
Social media has made the world smaller. Mostly for the good, but sometimes not so good. That’s why we need governance. But we only need a small amount of governance. It’s pretty straightforward as far as I’m concerned; outline the rules, communicate the rules and then let people adhere to them. Most people want to be good corporate citizens, and those that don’t, well deal with them in the approriate manner. Don’t penalise everyone because some idiots decide they’re different and fancy chancing their arms.
So I’ve gone from nay sayer to “Yes, I’m having some of this.”
As we decide what social networking widgets we introduce into the forthcoming new BBC intranet homepage, and make available across the estate, we have a challenge. Do we provide all the new “cool” stuff or do we keep it simple and merely allow personalisation so BBC folk can decide for themselves?
I think it will be a combo of mandatory information, customisation based on what we know about them and letting users do what they want. So long as they adhere to the rules of course.
No point in having it any other way is there?
Note; This post contains personal views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated.
Rob Dorey said
Hi Phil,
Good comments as always but I’m not so sure we only need “a small amount of governance”. Some of the comments left on Facebook groups and on You Tube are digusting, full of bad language,often barely literate and fuelled by emotion rather than common sense. Bearing in mind they seem to be seldom removed, mostly just left there where kids can openly view them, I find that annoying and very sad. Surely we should be debating subjects in a rational manner not resorting to filth, and if we do, then the filth should be removed.
Funnily enough, quite recently there was an online discussion on the subject of intranet governance and moderation on one of our major sites (Phil – you know where I work). It degenerated into quite a vitriolic debate between two people. A moderator (had there been one) should have stepped in and closed the argument down as it was going nowhere and had become quite personal.
Or am I just old-fashioned?
Rob D
Phil Edwards said
Thanks for your insightful and informed comment, Rob. And no you’re not being old fashioned.
The governance comment I made relates to the level needed inside companies on our intranets. Anonymous posting shouldn’t be allowed, posters should know what the rules are and the appropriate HR procedures enforced when necessary following the appropriate warnings.
In my current role there have only been two occasions in two years when I’ve had to remind people of the rules. The second poster apologised and amended their comment accordingly and immediately and the first poster, after some debate on email with me, then adhered to the rules and removed the offending item. There is also the law of the crowd; whereby other posters will either wade in and correct inappropriate behaviour, or alert moderators so the forums become self managing.
I completely agree that offensive language, slanging matches, personal attacks and derogatory remarks have no place in public (or private) social media spaces. Items should be removed, and repeat subsequently offenders banned. Most sites have mechanisms in place to alert moderators whereby sites rely on its users to alert them accordingly.
What we shouldn’t do as intranet managers is to allow companies to not introduce social media because they’re concerned or afraid people will abuse it. There is little evidence to support the fact that most sensible people abuse the system. The real reason for companies not willing to introduce social networking sites is because they’re unclear of the use they have in open communications within the organisation (and we need to educate them) and that they traditionally have only communicated one way and fear an “open” space which employees will use to air grievances or bring attention to perceived wrong doings of the company.
Axa had this view not so long ago and they decided to test social networking on a small scale with full moderation and once they realised that it was a useful way of finding out their employees thoughts, they subsequently relaxed their approach with, as far as I’m aware, no major problems.
However the culture of the organisation will dictate how successful social media is. Some companies need to “sort” themselves out first before being willing to go down this path.
A sensible approach will usually work. Big brother won’t.
Chat soon Rob.