Social media: Are the lines between professional and personal use blurring?

Abstract

A key aspect of understanding communications in a global environment is understanding social media usage. With the recent dramatic increase in social media usage in the past decade, the incorporation of social media and online platforms into communication strategies of organizations has been intensively discussed and researched. This study investigates social media usage at a global manufacturer to understand how it is being used for business purposes. Are personal and professional lines blurring with social media use? With the increased use of social media in the workplace, our professional and personal lives are increasingly becoming intertwined. The literature suggests that social media interaction and managing the boundaries is more difficult online than offline. Social media is where the lines are blurred between our professional and private lives. It is where we share our food, music, movies, pictures, purchases, politics, and our every-day patterns, alongside our daily professions, on display for the entire world to see. Keywords: social media, strategy, digital, issues, communication, professional