siliconindia | | May 20137school seniors, it was found that 69 percent of them use social networking to talk to their peers about homework. This shows they are learning to use social media to be productive in school ­ why would not they be able to do the same in the workplace? Attracting talented employees and getting the most out of them will demand that companies find a way to make the workplace more amenable to the way younger workers communicate and collaborate - and that means giving them access to social media in the workplace.Social media engagement and employee access comes with responsibilities. However, organizations need to understand that social media engagement and employee access comes with responsibilities that reach far beyond their corporate-sanctioned content and communications. As regulatory agencies continue to assess corporate involvement in social media, more rules and guidelines are on the horizon. Just this year, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), an interagency body empowered by virtually every financial regulatory agency in the US, issued new guidelines for social media use. Late last year, in response to growing student use of social media, the FCC added new rules to CIPA (Child Internet Protection Act), mandating that schools take a more active role in preparing students to be "good digital citizens". And this is only the beginning. The SEC and FINRA are also creating new rules that address social media use, with other regulatory agencies not far behind. When we look at what's happening in the UK and Australia, where efforts to regulate social media are moving even faster, you find that Facebook content is being closely scrutinized, with regulators examining posts for infractions such as misleading statements, or inappropriate material aimed at underage targets. It is not difficult to predict where US regulatory requirements might be headed, particularly considering that the FCC has already weighed-in on behalf of CIPA. And because social media has long tentacles that connect your corporate profile with thousands of other profiles and their content ­ it is not difficult to imagine the immense scope of vulnerabilities you may face now and in the future. Beyond violating regulations and the ensuing fines, unmanaged social media content leaves you open to legal liability, alienated customers, and serious brand damage.Worst-case ScenariosYou may consider your social media engagement a positive development and certainly your intentions are the best, but imagining some worst-case scenarios might better illuminate the serious risks you face. For instance, take a well-known organization that caters to children and imagine they post Facebook content aimed at attracting new customers. Then imagine that their posts result in comments from the public and that these comments include all sorts of inappropriate content, such as links to porn sites or worse. In another example, a 2012 survey done by AMN Healthcare revealed that nearly half of the healthcare professionals surveyed said they use social media for professional networking and another 40 percent said they connect with their patients via social media. Now imagine that patients start posting their PHI (protected healthcare information) on their provider's Facebook wall, or that other comments contain diagnoses or medication suggestions. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg. Other risks can include cyber bullying and cyber harassment, which are exacerbated by the anonymity offered by social media. The victimization of employees, or students, in the case of schools, can have terrible consequences ranging from lawsuits, to self-harm and worse.Such situations are not unimaginable and some have already occurred. Organizations need to understand that disclaimers and waivers make sense, but they would not protect you from the damage of bad content or from the regulatory requirements that are with us now and those just over the horizon. Many organizations are beginning to face the challenges of their social media presence by establishing policies and processes that govern their social networking engagement, including designating responsibilities, establishing guidelines and training employees. This is a good start but it does not guarantee compliance or enforcement. True enforcement requires technology that monitors interactions across multiple platforms, applies granular policies and includes comprehensive reporting so that AUP and regulatory compliance can be assured. Just as technology has brought safe Internet and email to the workplace, it can also deliver safe social media.True enforcement requires technology that monitors interactions across multiple platforms, applies granular policies and includes comprehensive reporting""
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