When it comes to social media, Brazilians are practically champions. Considering the amount of time spent on social media, Brazilian users spend about three hours a day on this type of platform , placing them second in the list of countries that use this tool the most. In the workplace, this characteristic ends up having a negative impact on productivity, resulting from excessive social media use.
See which are the main social networks used in Brazil:
With the recent Covid-19 pandemic and the increase in remote workers, this number is expected to grow. We know that certain activities and functions depend on cell phone use during work hours, but this type of access can cause numerous problems for organizations, such as:
- Loss of productivity;
- Delay in delivery of demands;
- Decline in profitability;
- Higher incidence of errors;
- Drop in quality;
- And even work accidents.
But how can a company effectively control excessive social media use during work hours? If your business wants to combat this problem and increase employee productivity , don't miss this article!
The negative impact of social media on productivity
The lack of balance between social life and work has been a widely discussed and challenged issue among managers of companies of all sizes. It's undeniable that the internet has brought us efficient solutions and tools to add even more value and convenience to our daily routines , but it also poses a major threat when it comes to productivity.
Unauthorized access during working hours leads to a loss of productivity and causes employees to deliver less and less during working hours. This is because this type of access causes employees to be distracted for long periods of time and stop performing activities that truly contribute to their growth and the growth of the company.
We know that these types of accesses are common and routine for employees, as they're a way to relax and distract themselves during breaks. However, when this access occurs at times when the employee should be fully focused on essential business tasks , it results in serious problems for the company.
And these accesses have a ripple effect within the organization. Initially, few employees access social media during work hours, but this behavior can be replicated by other employees and cause immense dissatisfaction within the workplace.
It is clear: if an employee is being overwhelmed by excessive demands caused by the low productivity of a coworker, this employee will experience dissatisfaction and may experience a drop in profitability.
In addition to social media, there are other types of access that organizations must combat, such as entertainment websites, online stores, pornography, and others. However, with the growth of these platforms, companies are facing difficulties in controlling this, resulting in significant impacts to their bottom line.
Unlike what was seen a few years ago, today there is no longer a distinction between the audience that frequently accesses social media . The growth of this type of platform has shown us that people of all ages and profiles use social media consistently. The difference we can notice in user profiles is that younger people tend to use multiple social media platforms simultaneously , while this number is lower among older audiences.
The dynamic exchange of information enabled by social media has brought us numerous benefits, but it also causes immense harm to companies. Although many businesses have implemented a Mobile Internet Usage Policy to determine the best behavior in the digital environment, these rules are often not followed by users.
Therefore, companies need to seek more efficient training and tools to establish more assertive control over usage patterns and the type of access that occurs within the work environment.
Employees need to be trained and empowered to understand that using the internet incorrectly can cause problems for the business , and what their respective role is in maintaining security and delivering the demand required by the company.
While controlling internet access may seem like an extreme measure, it has shown in practical ways how this management can make a difference for companies. Having an access control tool will help keep your employees safe from problems caused by excessive social media use during work hours.
Every organization's goal is to ensure its employees are more productive and can effectively contribute to business growth. While the internet is essential for carrying out work activities, it must be used intelligently and strategically.
5 tips to help you deal with excessive social media use at work
An internet access policy is the first step in ensuring your employees understand the importance of using this valuable resource responsibly.
Your team must be committed and accountable for their role in meeting the needs of the business and the team . Your team must be engaged and understand how they can impact the company's dynamics, from the simplest habits, such as creating secure passwords, to the need for more specific tools for business security.
Additionally, it's also essential that companies implement measures to help combat excessive social media use during work hours . Here are some tips we've prepared for you:
1- If it is not possible to eliminate, focus on what is relevant
Some companies require the use of specific social networks to maintain their operations. With this in mind, access control tools are essential to ensure that only employees who require these types of tools have access within the company.
This way, managers can prevent misuse and ensure that employees who do not need social media during this period do not access it.
2- Disable notifications
It's common for social media platforms to send notifications on mobile devices or even via email. This type of alert ends up triggering employees to access social media, which can lead to employees wasting a lot of time on these platforms.
Disabling notifications helps avoid this “temptation” and helps combat excessive social media use during work hours.
3- Implement an awareness policy
It's important that employees understand their role in maintaining productivity and business growth. An awareness policy will help your team understand why this type of access poses a risk and how it can hinder not only the smooth running of activities but also the employee's growth within the company.
4- Help your employees separate their personal lives from their work lives
The main reason for excessive social media use during work hours is a lack of work-life balance. It's important to understand whether your employees are motivated and satisfied with their work environment and the work they perform.
The more engaged your team is, the more focused they'll be on the activities that truly matter to the business . It's crucial that your employees have clear, achievable goals within your organization so they can stay focused on what's essential.
5- Internet access control
While it may seem like a drastic measure, controlling internet access can help your team stay more focused on what's most important to the company. Having an access control tool can help your employees maintain productivity and ensure the quality of the service they provide.
There are countless traps on the internet that can cause even greater problems than just lost productivity, such as data leaks and disruptions to your activities. This tool could be all your company needs to avoid these obstacles.
Find a tool that can help you
There are several tools on the market designed to control activities in the digital environment. However, not every tool can deliver the practicality and efficiency your company needs. It's essential to have an easy-to-use and intuitive resource that helps your manager perform this control efficiently.
Lumiun has developed exclusive tools to provide quality control for monitoring access within your business. With tools like Lumiun Box and Lumiun DNS , you can assertively and effectively control access within your company, helping to increase productivity and prevent the main cyber threats that lurk in the digital environment.
Contact us to find the best tool for your business needs . Lumiun has a highly specialized team ready to help meet your company's needs.
