Social media and Social Networks

By
Lohash Lakra

In an era where the Internet or the World Wide Web has become the predominant access point for international communications and a gateway to an unlimited database of information, the world is gradually evolving into a global village. And this global village includes business which is Competitive, Risky, and difficult. It’s not only business but a war going on to maximise profit through any means possible – Innovation, Grab Markets, Competitive prices, Quality etc.
IT has been playing and also would play bigger role in business and its Functions in the coming future. Internet as a Backbone of IT has Databases, Networks, Users, Information, Business and Personal Information- which is being now handled by the new concepts like Social networking and Knowledge Management Systems. The only way of survival seems to be utilizing knowledge in every possible way and turning them into profits.



Social Networking Now becoming the most preferred destination on internet by the users is A boon and an omen in disguise.
Its Obvious that internet through Social networking websites connects you to the world and Gives you a platform where people on the same platform can know about you, and can contact you. It gives you an area where you can represent yourself in the way you want. It’s a mode of Marketing, Promotion and Recognition for Individuals, Business and Brands. Every Business Wants to Draw benefit from the knowledge it already has and want to get more knowledge as much as possible so that can be further used for profit generation.


Business often quotes it as “To organise the World’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”, but the purpose can also be seeking personal information and misusing it for other purposes.
IT is now the blood of the Organisation which connects and completes every Work Chain. But if not taken care of and mishandled then can be disastrous.
Social Networking Websites – the hot spot , voluntarily promote users to provide there personal information for free which have no legal issues and thus such information and accordingly be channelized for economic benefits. This information being Manipulated and Distributed in such a way that leads to Classification and usage of Information to get desired results.

If we see in context to Employees, they are the part of the organisation. And anything done by them or on behalf of them carries the companies name along. Whatever information they provide or share individually on internet through such social network involves the organisation he is a part of. In an Organisation employees are given a specific work environment to perform the assigned functions and therefore whatever function they perform are the functions which are performed related and regarding the organisation. Therefore the organisation has full right to control and manage any kind of Task performed by employees in that environment.
Social Networking Websites Obviously let you control the Information you want to share online. But it does not let you control what other people share and interpret about you which is hazardous for Both Business and an Individual. Both of these have a control on Internal Factors and Not External. Because you are on a platform where everything is shared as per wish and point of view without any Control and Authentication; Thus, leading to Monetary as well as Non-monetary Losses.
Other than this, such Involvement of People and Business on Social Networking and Unnecessary personal Stuff has lead to Wastage of Time and Decrease in efficiency of employees. As per surveyed AMA study 64% of employees email contained inappropriate or offensive language and more than 25% fired workers for excessive personal use of email.



I would like to concentrate my interest keeping India as a developing country in mind. In context to the Indian Business market and Individuals Social Networking usage and dependence on internet for daily business Activities is increasing day by day. The Amount of Information being shared and Indulgence online is at an increasing pace.
Especially for a developing economy like India there is a need to monitor, control and channelize Knowledge for a good and ethical use. Being rich in resources and technology there is just a need of international exposure which would act as a window to open up Indian Business to International market and Make full use of Internet and International Trade. Also In India the Cyber laws are not too active in India and thus there is a great need to take care about the Sharing Knowledge.
And Main aim should be increase of efficiency by utilizing the advantages and preventing the losses which can be caused by the Cons.

(The Author is a B.Com graduate and has attended summer school at the London School of Economics)

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