It is suggested by many that the use of sites like facebook, myspace and youtube all harm the productivity of firms. One article from the BBC suggests that it could be costing firms as much as £130 (approx. US$192.5) million per day and 223 million hours. This has led to many firms and other organisations such as schools blocking access to such sites preventing employees and students wasting valuable time.

However there are challenges to this belief, one book that put forward a challenge to the conventional wisdom is Grown Up Digital by Don Tapscott. The Economist suggests that preventing ‘net generation’ for accessing Facebook at work is ‘the equivalent of forbidding older staff to use their rolodexes’.

Following the study by Tapscott of 8000 people in 12 countries he presents a different picture to that normally associated with those who spend much of their time using computers and playing video games. The issue, it is suggested, is not with the current generation but with the baby boomer generation before them. The two generations are so far removed from each other that they are unable to understand each other.

Contrary to the baby boomers beleif that video games and other activities of the net generation have ‘robbed today’s young of the ability to think’ research would seem to suggest otherwise. Instead video gomes are increacing visual processing abilities of the new generation and the internet in enabling the mass mobilisation of the young.

The recent campaign of Barack Obama has demonstrated this ability with Obama having 3,187,755 supporters on Facebook alone and millions more emails on the campaigns email list. This led to 66% of voters aged 18-29 voting Obama (according to an exit poll reported in The Guardian see the picture here). Further the same statistic would seem to suggest that the Obama campaign has used this mass of esupporters not only to gain existing voters but encourage new registrations aswell with 68% of first time voter choosing Obama.

The Economist quotes Taoscott’s eight characteristics which define the ‘net generation’. These suggest that this new generation values freedom and choice in what they do as well as entertainment in all parts of their life (including work). This would suggest that it is those firms which choose to allow facebook and other sites in the work place are not providing a carte blanche to staff to waste time but instead are making use of one of the internets newest communication tools.

Tapscott does have worries. The first not a new one, being the failings of the worlds education systems. Although many are doing well out of these systems those who aren’t are further behind than before. Secondly is a lack of regard for privacy.

Lack of privacy is something that could be seen as one of the drawbacks of the internet with many sites requiring personal details (sometimes without justification) and a willingness from all to give out such information without any regard for where it might go and what might be done with that information. Further this lack of privacy on the internet is something that almost all employer have made use of. Employer now check the online footprint of prospective employees and the pictures of your drunken antics is unlikely to be the first impression with which you wish your prospective employer to be presented.

Tapscott suggests that the education of children on the dangers of the internet is very much the job of parents using the very low tech means of family discussion. However it is also the current internet users who unthinkingly spread the contents of their lives liberally across the internet who really need education as to the hidden dangers as well the many wonders of the internet. Isn’t it?

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