39% of 18-24 year-olds would consider leaving their jobs if Facebook was blocked at work, according to a report from vnunet.com. This information came across my desktop via a blog titled “Lack of Facebook Access Makes You Want to Quit? Grow up, Punks.”
Wait, we’re the ones who should grow up? You first, name-caller!
I’ll agree with the blogger that “Facebook offers little the average worker can use for work.” I basically sign on for three reasons during work hours: to read newfeeds on friends, to write responses to wall posts, and to scrutinize recently posted pictures and promptly untag if embarrassing/hideous.
There is an indirect benefit to employers however. Reading, writing, and scrutinizing with immediacy, attention to detail, and entertaining value - these activities are not kept exclusive to socializing but they cross right over into job skills when processing information regarding business, responding to co-worker or client emails, and determining what looks good to the public eye.
In this sense, Facebook isn’t slowing business down or hindering output. It’s setting a faster pace while constantly updating our awareness of which words and images create interest. Isn’t this a goal of growing businesses?
The blogger also asserts that “those who’d quit a job over Facebook just want to be able to do what they want, at any time.” Well, with cell phones, laptops and Blackberries, we are virtually expected to be available – any time, even if we don’t want to – for our company. So scheduling some of our free time to research our crush’s favorite movies, music and quotes is but a luxury of the past.
And for a final thought - without the 18-24 year-olds in the office, who is going to explain to senior staff members what a poke is when they end up getting Facebook?
Inspired by “Lack of Facebook Access Makes You Want to Quit? Grow up, Punks.” By Ann All. ITBusinessEdge. 6 June 2008. http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/tve/?p=338
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