Facebook at Work makes daytime newsfeed browsing OK
Presumed to be a major reason behind productivity loss and workplace distraction, Facebook is trying to make peace with angry bosses with the new Facebook at Work—a service that is likely to receive positive response from employers, as well as expand the horizons for the social media kingpin in the professional sphere.
Facebook at Work is designed to serve professionals in the corporate world, allowing employees to keep in touch with their co-workers through chat and maintain professional contacts. Similar to the existing social networking site, the professional version will also have a newsfeed and groups. Other features similar to LinkedIn and Google, such as collaboration of data and sharing documents, puts ‘Facebook at Work’ in direct competition with these top-performing sites.
Facebook’s new venture ‘Facebook at Work’ is already being tested by some companies. From wikimedia commons.
The new service, which is likely to be launched in January, is being pilot tested by Facebook employees. A few other companies (the names of which have not yet been disclosed) are also testing the new version for their in-house communication.
One of the telling features of Facebook at Work is that it will let users keep their personal accounts separate from professional ones, with none of the information and data of one account showing up on the other. This will enable users to maintain their privacy.
Predictably, LinkedIn, which has a strong foothold in the field of professional social media, felt the pressure which was visible when its shares tumbled down.
Pointing out at Facebook’s advantage over LinkedIn, Tim Sackett, president of HRU Technical Resources says that people access LinkedIn only when they’re on the look out for a job, but they use Facebook every day.
But the hugely popular social networking site has its own set of weaknesses. Employers consider Facebook a workplace distraction and it is recognised only as a personal social networking site. Experts blame the internet for productivity drain, and Facebook users comprise a major chunk of people who visit social media sites for non-work related purposes during office hours. According to research, 65.1 percent workers admitted to accessing Facebook in the office.
However, this is also what may give Facebook at Work a headstart in the game. Its phenomenal popularity and familiar interface will make people more willing to try and use it. What remains to be seen is how well it continues to perform in a segment where other big players like LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Google have already made their mark.
Category: Office courtesy
