I am sorry I have to write this but it appears some of the leading technology journals are unable to agree on the difference between a ban and a block. If I didn’t know better, some editors might think the two verbs are synonyms.
The facts
On October 6, 2009, IT staffing firm Robert Half International released the results of an independent survey of 1,400 chief information officers that 54% of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees ban access to social networking sites.
From the press release:
CIOs were asked, “Which of the following most closely describes your company’s policy on visiting social networking sites, such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, while at work?” Their responses:
Prohibited completely – 54%
Permitted for business purposes only – 19%
Permitted for limited personal use – 16%
Permitted for any type of personal use – 10%
Don’t know/no answer – 1%“Using social networking sites may divert employees’ attention away from more pressing priorities, so it’s understandable that some companies limit access,” said Dave Willmer, executive director of Robert Half Technology.
“For some professions, however, these sites can be leveraged as effective business tools, which may be why about one in five companies allows their use for work-related purposes.”
In response
Mashable: More Than Half of Employers Now Block Twitter, Facebook, MySpace
Wired magazine: Study: 54 Percent of Companies Ban Facebook, Twitter at Work
Turning to Merriam-Webster
The dictionary kings define the intransitive verb, to ban: : to prohibit especially by legal means
The transitive verb, to block, is different: : to make unsuitable for passage or progress by obstruction b archaic : blockade c : to hinder the passage, progress, or accomplishment of by or as if by interposing an obstruction d : to shut off from view e : to interfere usually legitimately with (as an opponent) in various games or sports f : to prevent normal functioning or action of g : to restrict the exchange of (as currency or checks)
I’ll presume the blocking proponents, like Mashable, are using the “d” clause.
Which is it?
Ben McConnell calls it a ban, echoed by Mario Sundar. Neither define the corporate actions as blocking, typically indicative of security or privacy concerns.
Bans carry the potential for reversal without massive IT infrastructure changes, which blocks insist. In the above study, the companies opt to prohibit their employees from accessing the sites. That option can be reversed tomorrow, so how’s it a block?
About Ari Herzog
Very interesting post!
I have been at jobs that allowed employees to visit these websites and to be honest, the productivity dropped dramatically because of wasted time. Mind you, they were younger employees, however I think employers should ban the websites during work hours, however, they should offer longer breaks during the day and allow these sites for enjoyment.
Studies have shown that employees that get at least 1 hour of breaks during the day vs 30 minutes or less accomplish more per day. Well I got a little off of topic…
Small businesses can use this to their advantage. I am currently collaborating with one that has many of their employees active on Twitter, Facebook, FriendFeed and StumbleUpon. They are actively connecting online with potential business partners, resellers and buyers.
Businesses that insist on trying to measure time spent building relationships against each sale won’t be impressed; however, it can really work if you focus on what you can do FOR those you interact with instead of what you can SELL them.
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I wonder if the confusion comes from the use of the word “block” on Twitter (followers) and Facebook (apps), et al.? “Blocking” has become so routine that the distinction is not difficult to fudge.
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I don’t know, but worthy question, no?
As an IT guy I don’t confuse it before but now I am heheh!
anyway you made a good elaboration about it Ari so I am back to track!
thanks!
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They should be banned from work, the serve no real purpose. Unless the staff want to want to work overtime to make up time for accessing sites such as Facebook.
Sounds like you disagree Facebook can be used for business?
i think i am confused here because however I think employers should ban the websites during work hours,and other side however, they should offer longer breaks during the day and allow these sites for enjoyment.
I say ban you say block, either or, you don’t want either one to happen to you. This really got me thinking, with a whole new wave of technology and social media, comes a whole new dictionary of words and terms. I wonder how many words will actually stick and continie to be used.