Linkedin – Emperor’s New Clothes

I’ve never liked Linkedin. There I said it. It’s a heresy among some of the social media glitterati. But I’ve never liked it. I’ve never seen it as being social. And, therefore, I’ve never understood why it’s called a “social network”.

Today, a specific reason why it makes me uncomfortable finally crystallised in my head. I don’t like corporate environments where people are frightened to show their real personalities and hide behind professional personas. I’ve spent a large part of my working life in those kinds of places, and I’m glad to be out of them. I think it’s an outdated way of working, it makes people unhappy, and unhappy people are not productive people.

And now I realise, that’s exactly what Linkedin tries to do in the online world. It’s getting worse, with meaningless endorsements for skills people don’t necessarily have, and congratulations for vapid anniversaries. I’ve even been invited to congratulate someone on their new role at “unemployed”!

So, if you are tempted to spend your time hiding behind your Linkedin profile, don’t. Why not take some time to join us on the really social platforms where people can be themselves?

[In keeping with the spirit of Linkedin, I have not adorned this post with anything so frivolous as a picture]

Our Politicians still inhabit the 19th Century

So, Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour Party, is calling for a weekly public questioning of the Prime Minister. I’m not going to debate the merits and demerits of this suggestion. But I am going to question the proposed format; which is that people turn up at the Palace of Westminster and deliver their questions in person.  So, you only get to question the Prime Minister if you live in London or can afford the time and money to travel there from wherever else in the UK you might live.

Once again our politicians demonstrate their nineteenth century thinking. Just as they believe that faster trains are the answer to our modern communications needs, they maintain that politics has to be done in London, in person.

Well, I’ve got news for them. The internet has given everybody the tools to make their opinions known. If politicians ignore that and continue using vastly outdated methods of communication they don’t have much of a future.

Would you ban your employees from talking to anyone? At any time?

According to this post which was drawn to my attention by Paul Taylor on Twitter, the number of employers blocking their employees’ access to social media at work has INCREASED over the past year from 29% to 36%. I find this flabbergasting, I thought we were winning this battle.

Social media is a modern form of communication. Ask yourself how you would feel if your employer banned you from TALKING to anyone. Not just in your working hours, but at all times, because, after all, anything you say could be seen as reflecting on your employer, because; even though it might be a private conversation, it is easy to find out who you work for and attribute your views to the organisation you work for.

Banning social media at work is effectively closing off a modern communication method to employees. It is virtually the same as banning them from talking to anyone….  at any time. That is a recipe for dissatisfied, frustrated employees, and an organisation that is secretive and whose motives will be open to question.

Please don’t do it….

Tackling digital exclusion: five to follow on Twitter

Well, this is a rather unexpected, but nonetheless welcome, honour from Society Guardian…

http://www.theguardian.com/society-professionals/2014/jul/09/digital-exclusion-twitter-bloggers-public-services

Sun, Sea and Social Media

 

Saturday 16th August 2014

11am to 5pm

Filey Beach, North Yorkshire

and

the internet

Join us on Filey Beach, or online on Saturday 16th August for an extravaganza of social media, digital inclusion, and general internet capers by the sea.

This is event is sponsored by Coast and Country Housing Limited.

Register here

Sun, Sea and Social Media is:

• a social media adventure, featuring a number of experienced social media users who will document their journeys to Filey and their activities on the day;

• a social media surgery, offering real-time, practical advice to people on the beach on how to get the best out of using social media to enhance their holiday and beach experience;

• a digital inclusion event, helping people new to the internet get online by demonstrating what enormous fun can be had on the internet;

• a demonstrator, showcasing the power of new technologies in a beach setting, including a LIVE linkup with the Costa del Sol in Spain; and

• a lot of fun! featuring live streamed beach cricket, knobbly knees contests, sandcastle championships, and other beach-based shenanigans

Join in the fun on Filey Beach any time between 11 and 5. Or follow the action online using the hashtag #smbeach with occasional live video at http://www.johnpophamlive.co.uk

any queries

tweet @johnpopham

Register here

photo credit Paul Stephenson on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_stephenson/