People communicate today in a number of ways. One of those ways is to communicate through social media networks. Social media networks include websites like Facebook and other communication systems like Twitter. Social media has really spread and these systems have not only entered personal communication but businesses are using them as well for marketing and other communication of their own. When is it okay to use social media at work.

Social media and communication for personal reasons should really be consistent with any other rules in the office that govern personal communication. Most offices do not completely forbid personal phone calls, however, the amount of time spent on personal business is meant to be limited so that one can focus on work. If you are wondering if it is okay to use your smart phone to communicate on Facebook or Twitter it is probably best to follow the rules with use of the company telephone at your desk.

It is important to know that if you use your work computer for personal communication that the company probably has access to whatever you send and you probably shouldn’t consider what you do there private. Many companies have limitations on using work computers for personal use and it is good to be familiar with those rules.

A text message, a Tweet, a post on Facebook: these may seem like something that doesn’t take long to complete and it may not interrupt you getting your work done, but the truth is, that these things take time and it probably does interrupt you. Be conscious of what you are doing, that is probably the best personal policy.