The Facebook challenge

Mention the word “Facebook” to many employers and their response is likely to be an audible groan. However, some may have already embraced social networking websites within the workplace and have a more cheery demeanour, while a few may look quizzically and not know what Facebook and the like is. There is no doubt that as the popularity of Facebook, MySpace and Bebo, and the various other incarnations of social networking websites has risen over the last three years, there has been a challenge laid down for employers in terms of how they are going to deal with this phenomenon and radical change to the way we communicate.

There has been a great deal of press in recent times about the impact on organisations of these social networking websites. There have been warnings as to the dangers in opening up IT systems to the risk of viruses, by employers allowing employees access to these sites at work and