The Rise of Blogging and Employment
Growing
interest in the examination of the patterns of interaction and content creation
in which social media users engage in has increased since the rise of social
media (Bruns et al., 2011). Within the past decade, various websites have been
created to give everyday people a chance to become a blogger and there is an
endless list of the topics which are being written about, one being employment.
One example is a young female who started a fashion blog named ‘Tuula Vintage’,
where her friend took photographs of her wearing outfits that she has styled
herself. This has led her to many opportunities, as she now promotes herself on
many different forms of social media and has received praise from designers, as
well as styling jobs, modelling contracts and gets to attends New York fashion
week.
However,
when employees use blogs to speak badly about someone in your workplace or vent
about a horrible day at work, it can be harmful to their career. The article by
Richards and Kosmala draws on blogging as the empirical space for exploring the
cynicism of employees towards their work place (Richards & Kosmala,
2013). Work blogging was first discussed
in management and organisation studies in relation to employment law, and debates
have been focused on attempts to consider whether these practices should be
seen as reasonable and potentially protected form of employee expression
(Richards & Kosmala, 2013).
According
to Schoneboom (2007), work blogs may constitute a ‘counter-hegemonic force to
that of the employer’s ideology’ and do so by creating parodies of work in
addition to the anonymity afforded by such communication technologies (Richards
& Kosmala, 2013). Richards (2008) argues that work blogging should be ‘viewed
as an expanding forum for self-organised employee resistance and misbehaviour,
rejecting a reductive view of blogging platforms as forums for Cyber-waffle’ (Richards
& Kosmala, 2013). In my opinion, both of these arguments are valid, as
blogs may disagree with the ideologies of their employers and can vent their
frustrations anonymously in order to protect themselves. I also believe that
blogs should not be a ‘forum for Cyber-waffle’, as that seems unprofessional
and may lead to your dismissal should it be taken too far.
Personally,
I believe bloggers should use their blogs to gain popularity and exposure in
the workplace, rather than speaking poorly about their current workplace. This can
easily be discussed with a family member or a friend and does not need to be
placed onto the internet, as this can create unnecessary dramas.
Sources:
Hi Lauren,
ReplyDeleteYou have raised great points that I agree with. Especially the point you raised when you believe bloggers should only use such privileges to gain popularity in the workforce. If negative issues arise it is best kept off line and dealt with constructively. Not only is this best for the workplace but more importantly for the employer/blogger themselves.
I found it funny when you mentioned that in the past 10 years there have been countless opportunities via different websites to blog. Blogging opportunities are now everywhere and are inevitable especially in this day and age. Thank you for sharing!