4 Comments

MySpace Didn’t Invent Disgruntled Employees

Jul 21, 2006
by

I’m no stranger to link-baiting having done it myself from time to time, but hey, I’m just a blogger, not a business-week reporter. Kurt Soller’s piece ‘MySpace: The Young And The Vicious‘ qualifies as a prime cut of juicy link-bait.

Oh, wait, I bit. You got me!

You’ve heard that MySpace is dangerous for your kids, but what about for your business? Behold the summer of talking smack. Lots of interns and other summer employees have been logging on and dishing out on blogs and social networking sites about incompetent co-workers, negligent managers, and annoying customers like, uh, you. Others use the sites to gossip or defend the companies against negative comments. A number of companies have banned interns from blogging. But so far social networking sites have escaped most employee conduct codes. With more than 25,000 groups on MySpace’s companies and co-workers section alone — including Publix Pimps, T.J. Maxx needs to die, and The Abercrombie is Evil Awareness Foundation — no company is immune.

The piece goes on to show comments taken from MySpace from disgruntled employees talking about the companies they work for. For example, AMC (Theatres).

Comment from blog as follows:

On management: “They’re lazy b——- who pass the bill on to someone below them while they sit in their dirty little offices ordering more food or they sit on the loading dock with a cigarette for half an hour while the box office and concession stands are being pummeled and the ushers are on their radios calling for help to clean their sold out shows…”

Comment from AMC corporate:

COMPANY COMMENT: Social networking sites are not official communication vehicles for AMC (Theatres), but we recognize that they exist. AMC encourages its associates to share concerns through authorized company channels.

More examples in the article. So why is this link bait? Because people have been saying bad stuff about their employers since the beginning of time, now they simply have an easier way of putting their thoughts out there.

In other words, this is nothing new. Myspace didn’t invent it either. So the headline assumption that ‘Myspace is vicious” is… chum.

Online publishing’s biggest asset to me is that it has removed the gatekeepers of content, and allowed anyone to be able to put their thoughts out there for the world to see. That IS a good thing, no matter how you slice and dice it in my book.

Filed under: Online Publishing
  • http://www.affiliateprograms.com Dave Cole

    Talking poorly about a previous employer isn't new – but I'm not sure these kids realize this will exist to haunt them (potentially) forever. Anything published once on the web may have been archived and stored away – even if its no longer in easy grasp.

    I think what it does point out is that these companies may have the opportunity to open up a better dialogue with their less-than-satisfied employees.

  • http://www.biddingfortravel.com Sheryl Mexic

    Could you please define "link-baiting?" It doesn't appear on Webopedia. And how does this article provide an example?

  • http://www.revenews.com Jim Kukral

    Sheryl,

    I define link baiting as writing sensational headlines and content that "baits" the readers into reading it, and hopefully linking to it if we're talking about blogs. The point of link baiting is to get attention, so you use hot topics (myspace) and/or you write content that is outrageous or "yummy" (think a worm to a fish) that you know is going to get noticed and get talked about.

    The problem with link baiting is that if you continuously do it, you lose credibility. I think you can get away with it, within reason.

  • http://ekusin.blogspot.com/ Elizabeth

    This is definitely an interesting phenomenon in today's working world with Generation Y entering the workforce. As this article shows, this new wave of workers is highly dependent on the Internet as a form of communication, particularly social networking sites. It also shows that companies today are struggling with generational gap issues, as companies seem to be having difficulty garnering loyalty from, and relating to, the younger generation of workers. Therefore, instead of reacting to this new MySpace company bashing by limiting access to the site, companies should see this from a human resources standpoint and realize this could be used as an avenue to better understand younger employees.

    Considering what an integral part of life technology is for Generation Y, employers should show their support by creating a working environment that fosters the use of technology. According to a Lawyers Weekly article, these young employees will move on unless a company gives them the culture and stimulation they need, and for most of Generation Y, this includes unrestricted access to the internet.

    The article also indicates that in order for this generation to feel valued, employers must give recognition for a job well done and keep them well informed. Another article released by the University of Wisconsin confirms that by accommodating specific employee differences and needs, employers help to relieve some of the tension from generational gaps in the workplace.

    Once companies learn to appreciate generational differences, younger employees will be more satisfied with their jobs and less inclined to use the Internet to vent their occupational frustrations.