Accessing social media at work, whether via computer or smartphone, has become a habit for Brazilians. Research conducted with 1,200 professionals in the country showed that seven out of ten say they manage to balance their time between internet browsing and professional activities. However, for managers and specialists, this practice distracts employees without them realizing it, compromising productivity.
Research on the use of social media at work.
In the survey, professionals indicated that they see no problem in accessing websites and applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others. However, 71% of them believe that when their colleagues do the same, they lose concentration and productivity. Furthermore, 45% of respondents acknowledged that browsing websites and social networks hinders their concentration.
Professionals need to understand that every moment of distraction leads to a loss of focus on the main task. The time and energy spent accessing the device repeatedly throughout the day can result in lost hours during the workday, potentially wasting up to 30% of working time.
For 29% of those surveyed, the solution is to block the use of social media and personal email at work, which could even be grounds for dismissal. However, some experts argue that drastic measures, such as blocking all internet access during working hours, are not recommended.
“People haven’t yet developed the ability to incorporate social media, cell phones, and tablets into their daily lives and still not lose focus. Today, employees check notifications on their smartphones and email on their computers at the same time. It’s impossible to have the mental capacity for all of that,” commented one of the research coordinators.
According to the research, access to social networks or personal email is restricted for 39% of respondents, who only browse during times stipulated by the company. Only 32% of those surveyed have access throughout the workday, and for 28%, access is only allowed for a portion of the company's employees.
Internet usage
This misuse of the internet in the workplace is nothing new, as many employees are not concerned with personal or company growth and end up simply occupying space within the corporate environment.
Furthermore, many contributors argue that they stay connected to stay informed, as they receive more information when they are online on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
However, this "knowledge" is illusory, because when you are connected and working at the same time, it becomes difficult to maintain concentration on two activities, so neither is done completely and correctly, aiming for satisfactory results.
Internet Management
It's important for companies to have some control over internet access, but drastic blocking rules are not recommended. Ideally, internet and social media access should be allowed at specific times, employees should be instructed on the responsible use of the internet, and browsing should be monitored through analytics tools and access reporting.
In this way, internet access is managed without making the employee feel completely restricted and unable to use the internet during lunch breaks, for example. It's important to keep in mind that the correct use of social media can contribute to work and even improve productivity, as the brain needs breaks during the day to stimulate creativity.
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