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Distracting or Recharging: How Social Media Affect Employees’ Performance

Imagine that your productivity is a battery: charging when you relax and depleting when you become distracted, annoyed, or worried. 

It’s just a mental exercise – actually, I don’t know if productivity works this way.

While this analogy may not be perfect, there is no denying that social media can have both distracting and recharging effects on it. According to a recent study by Passport Photo Online, social media significantly influences work performance, as well as the time and attention span devoted to work.

Curious about whether social media can help or hinder your employees’ work? Do you want to understand the general tendencies in this area? Here are three study findings that shed light on this topic.

The Impact of Social Media Usage on Employee Productivity

First of all, productivity is somehow a matter of time. You can’t make things done without really spending time on *making* them. Therefore, when examining the effect of social media on work performance, the first question is whether employees use it during working hours and how much time they spend on it.

The study revealed that 86% of employees use social media during work.

In other words, most workers incorporate social media into their work routines. The survey, which included over 1,000 US workers, also explored the time spent on social media. The results are not alarming: 43% of respondents spend up to 30 minutes on popular platforms, while 39% spend between 31 and 59 minutes daily. Only 18% use social media for 60 minutes or more each day.

While it might seem like a big chunk of time goes into social media, it’s just like taking coffee breaks or engaging in other social activities during work. Think of social media as a digital hangout where people connect and socialize, just like chatting with colleagues by the water cooler.

Spending too much time on social media can mess with your attention span. Just like in that study I mentioned earlier, a whopping 70% of people admitted feeling the effects firsthand.

It’s not just some random theory, either. 

Neurobiologists have been waving red flags about the serious impact of social media on our brainpower. Social media is constantly fighting for our attention, scattering it everywhere. We’re bombarded with a never-ending flow of new information at our fingertips, which overwhelms and overstimulates us. It’s no wonder heavy social media users end up struggling to focus and juggle multiple tasks.

Researchers think it’s because social media is like a candy store that’s always open. It’s so easy to access, and there’s always something new and shiny to grab our attention. So it’s no surprise that frequent users find it harder to tune out distractions.

So, have you ever sought ways to improve your own or your employees’ focus at work? Reducing screen time could be a nifty experiment worth trying.

Subjective Productivity: The Social Media Positive Effect

Work performance may not be solely subjective. Yet, there is a connection worth exploring.

Considering the amount of time spent on social media and its potential impact on attention span, one might assume that it negatively affects work productivity. However, employees have a different perspective. An astounding 94% of staff members believe that using social media at work actually recharges their batteries, leading them to feel more productive.

On the one hand, considering what we’ve learned so far, it’s somehow shocking. On the other hand, if we really think about what social media is all about, things become clearer. Social media platforms are our go-to entertainment source, such as watching adorable dog videos, hilarious movies, or scrolling through amusing memes. In this context, it can be a perfect working break, reigniting our energy and motivation.

But here’s the thing: remember that social media is meant to be just that – a break. It’s like when people make the mistake of planning fun stuff during a business trip before getting down to work. That can totally mess up your productivity, right? 

So, don’t kick off your workday with a social media binge. Instead, use it strategically to recharge when you feel tired and need a boost.

Conclusion

Based on the survey results, it’s not crystal clear whether social media is a productivity hero or a villain for employees. The truth is work performance depends on a bunch of different stuff. Social media can have upsides and downsides, but it’s not the sole dictator of our productivity. 

It’s just one piece of the puzzle.

Short bio:

Karolina Turowska, a writer and travel enthusiast at PhotoAiD. When it comes to writing, she loves bringing dry facts to life. When it comes to traveling, she just loves bikes.

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