Social media is a new frontier for many businesses. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram offer informal ways to interact with clients, employees, business partners and other important audiences. Data from the SMB Group shows that during 2012, the use of social media increased at small businesses from 44 to 53 percent, while its use at mid-sized businesses rose from 52 to 63 percent. Social media can be a convenient and cost efficient way to generate goodwill and word-of-mouth advertising.
While the advantages of social media are many, the lack of experience among users can leave your company open to serious social media risks that threaten the security and reputation of your business. According to a McKinsey & Company survey, the top five risks that executives associate with social media usage are:
- Leakage of confidential information - 55 percent
- Inappropriate intellectual property distribution - 40 percent
- Employee distraction from core tasks - 40 percent
- Posted content reflecting negatively on company - 30 percent
- Inappropriate employee discussions - 19 percent
Potential risks presented by inappropriate use of social media:
Loss of Intellectual Property
Employees who post information about projects they're working on, company developments or other sensitive topics can open the door to intellectual property theft from competitors. Likewise, an employee who posts content that infringes on another company's copyright or trademarks can put their own business at risk for costly litigation.
Hacking
Because social media is an online tool, it leaves users open to risks such as viruses, malware, phishing scams and identity theft. Hackers may use social networks to spread malicious code, compromise users' computers or access personal information about a user's identity, location, contact information and personal or professional relationships.
Company Reputation
One inappropriate or inflammatory post from an employee or disgruntled client can generate significant backlash which can then go viral. Most companies agree that inappropriate social media use can pose a serious reputational risk. Additionally, an employee who belittles the products or services of a competitor could make a business liable for damages relating to defamation.
Employee interaction
Social media presents new ways for employees to interact with each other which can result in negative behavior that affects the workplace. While businesses shouldn't police the personal lives of their employees, claims of bullying or sexual harassment need to be taken seriously and investigated quickly.
Employment screening
While it may be tempting to search a prospective or current employee's Facebook profile, your company's liability risk increases if hiring (or firing) decisions are based on information found on social media. For instance, Facebook postings could reveal information about a person's religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or other personal information that could later lead to a discrimination charge. In some jurisdictions, it is now illegal for employers to ask employees for their social media passwords so make sure that your current employment screening practices keep up with changing legislation.
Regulatory compliance
Inappropriate use of social media can also raise compliance concerns within certain industries. For instance, organizations subject to HIPAA privacy regulations need to ensure that social media does not become an outlet for sharing patient information.
Minimizing your social media risks
Many organizations are not prepared to respond to the risks posed by social media. Only 59 percent of surveyed companies have a privacy policy, while 56 percent have employee guidelines covering the personal use of social media, according to an Altimeter Group report. Of these companies, only 30 percent update their policies annually. Even fewer train newly hired employees on social media policies.
Start with a policy - Having a social media policy is a critical first step for any business looking to minimize the risks of social media. The policy should include proper online security measures, rules concerning sharing of company information, regulations regarding company image online, restrictions on personal use of social media at work, as well as interaction with employees over social media outside of work.
In addition to creating a comprehensive social media policy that covers social media use as well as how to respond to a problem, the following are some quick tips on how to mitigate the risks that social media usage can present to your business:
Educate employees - It's important to educate your current and new employees on your social media policy so they will understand the ground rules and expectations. Explaining social media policies to employees should be viewed with the same importance as nondisclosure or non-compete agreements.
Monitor posts on a daily basis - You need to know when your company is mentioned in a post so you can respond quickly, if needed, to customer complaints or concerns. There are a variety of software programs that enable you to monitor chatter on social media or you can enlist a third party resource to monitor on your behalf.
Consider Cyber Liability and EPLI Insurance
Even with the right procedures in place, the risk of lawsuits related to social media remains. In all likelihood, your general liability insurance policy will not cover claims related to social media. Depending on the type of risk exposure your company faces, you may want to consider additional coverage. Cyber liability insurance can help protect businesses of all sizes from the financial costs that can arise from loss of intellectual property, hacking, copyright infringement and other related issues. In addition, employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) can provide additional protection from discrimination claims, including those arising from electronic communication. Both types of coverage can be tailored to the needs of your business.
Social media gives you the opportunity to tell your story and build your reputation. By understanding the risks of social media and having policies in place to minimize these risks, you can safely take advantage of all the benefits this technology offers.
Talk to your HUB International advisor to learn how you can best protect your company from problems that may arise from social media use.
