Comments on: Facebook: to block or not to block http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/ Making the Internet safer and faster Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:21:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Rajib Ghosh http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/#comment-140693 Rajib Ghosh Sat, 12 Jan 2008 07:23:14 +0000 http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/#comment-140693 Facebook, MySpace, Orkut ... and a growing number of other sites can become a serious problems for Network Administrators and Project Managers. Apart from the fact that employees personal interests on company time is heavily frowned upon, certain groups/forums within these sites host content that is adult-oriented. In a workplace that also features a fair number of women, adult-oriented websites flashing on computer screens can later result in sexual harassment claims. To be on the safer side, we use the 'custom block list' on OpenDNS to tailor sites that we deem could potentially land the organization in trouble later on. Bit like Tom Cruise in Minority Report. Facebook, MySpace, Orkut … and a growing number of other sites can become a serious problems for Network Administrators and Project Managers.

Apart from the fact that employees personal interests on company time is heavily frowned upon, certain groups/forums within these sites host content that is adult-oriented.

In a workplace that also features a fair number of women, adult-oriented websites flashing on computer screens can later result in sexual harassment claims.

To be on the safer side, we use the ‘custom block list’ on OpenDNS to tailor sites that we deem could potentially land the organization in trouble later on. Bit like Tom Cruise in Minority Report.

]]> By: Ben Johns http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/#comment-114447 Ben Johns Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:34:15 +0000 http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/#comment-114447 I know it's a bit odd but Facebook has become somewhat adopted by our organisation and is used both as a social and business tool. One such example is that we use the 'causes' application - as we're a primary sponsor of the Wildlife Warriors. A viral like social network makes an excellent avenue for raising awareness. Marketing and Web also use it to advertise our special events such as Steve Irwin Day. Another use is that it boosts staff morale and brings people closer without having those awkward 'team building sessions'. So while it can be a productivity sink it does have beneficial purposes and as long as people aren't sitting on it all day everyday its use is tolerated. I know it’s a bit odd but Facebook has become somewhat adopted by our organisation and is used both as a social and business tool.

One such example is that we use the ’causes’ application - as we’re a primary sponsor of the Wildlife Warriors. A viral like social network makes an excellent avenue for raising awareness. Marketing and Web also use it to advertise our special events such as Steve Irwin Day.

Another use is that it boosts staff morale and brings people closer without having those awkward ‘team building sessions’.

So while it can be a productivity sink it does have beneficial purposes and as long as people aren’t sitting on it all day everyday its use is tolerated.

]]> By: JB Fields http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/#comment-111713 JB Fields Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:56:52 +0000 http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/#comment-111713 I'm not convinced that the productivity problem is as bad as we are inclined to think. Work is a social activity. Many of us are in jobs that require creativity. Expecting humans to work well on a production line may be a minor form of tyranny. The job that does not permit personal phonecalls or use of the copier for the odd legal document may be missing the boat. Part of the value of human workers is their social capabilities: who they know and can get answers from informally rather than a company having to hire and pay a consultant. If employees are not treated well, and all things are relative, moral is not going to be a competitive advantage. Even if they are playing solitaire, I have to ask what I need to do to get them more interested in their work. If it something that they are doing while waiting on hold and does not amount to much, why should I care? I’m not convinced that the productivity problem is as bad as we are inclined to think. Work is a social activity. Many of us are in jobs that require creativity. Expecting humans to work well on a production line may be a minor form of tyranny. The job that does not permit personal phonecalls or use of the copier for the odd legal document may be missing the boat.

Part of the value of human workers is their social capabilities: who they know and can get answers from informally rather than a company having to hire and pay a consultant.

If employees are not treated well, and all things are relative, moral is not going to be a competitive advantage. Even if they are playing solitaire, I have to ask what I need to do to get them more interested in their work. If it something that they are doing while waiting on hold and does not amount to much, why should I care?

]]> By: Thássius http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/#comment-107994 Thássius Thu, 08 Nov 2007 03:22:50 +0000 http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/#comment-107994 Here in Brazil or we block Orkut (the most used social network) or we have a lot of employees reading profiles or chatting via scraps. Here in Brazil or we block Orkut (the most used social network) or we have a lot of employees reading profiles or chatting via scraps.

]]> By: Lisa http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/#comment-107924 Lisa Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:10:16 +0000 http://blog.opendns.com/2007/11/07/facebook-to-block-or-not-to-block/#comment-107924 Agreed---I'm an avid facebooker and it undoubtedly occupies too much of my time every day. But, I can say that through my ever growing network on fb I’ve been able to find out about new and exciting industry events relevant to me and my company much faster and easier than through the web. And, the lists of attendees is publicly posted so I know well in advance whether or not the event is worth my time. Agreed—I’m an avid facebooker and it undoubtedly occupies too much of my time every day. But, I can say that through my ever growing network on fb I’ve been able to find out about new and exciting industry events relevant to me and my company much faster and easier than through the web. And, the lists of attendees is publicly posted so I know well in advance whether or not the event is worth my time.

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