A Detailed Analysis of Social Media Disadvantages in Organizations

This report delves into the various disadvantages associated with the use of social media platforms from an organizational viewpoint. It highlights the challenges posed by open platforms, security and privacy risks, the need for social media management teams, and the potential for accidental posts and negative comments. The report also addresses the consequences of irregular monitoring and inadequate strategic planning in social media usage. It underscores the importance of countermeasures, including careful planning, content management, and security controls, to mitigate these drawbacks. By analyzing these issues, the report aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges that businesses face when integrating social media into their operations, offering insights into how to navigate these complexities effectively.

Technology essentials for managers
Disadvantages of using Social Media from Organizational Viewpoint
OCTOBER 13, 2017

Disadvantages of using Social Media
Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Disadvantages of using Social Media....................................................................................................2
Open Platform...................................................................................................................................2
Social Media Management Team......................................................................................................2
Security & Privacy Risks...................................................................................................................3
Accidental Posts................................................................................................................................4
Negative Comments..........................................................................................................................4
Irregular Monitoring..........................................................................................................................4
Inadequate Strategy and Planning......................................................................................................5
Countermeasures to the Drawbacks.......................................................................................................5
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................6
References.............................................................................................................................................7

Disadvantages of using Social Media
Introduction
Social media is being increasingly used in the business organizations and by the users from all across
the globe. There are a number of social media platforms, such as, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
etc. that have been set up. These platforms are used by the users to remain in contact with each other.
From the business point of view, these social media platforms are used for marketing and advertising
activities along with interaction with the customers. The comments and interests shown by the
customers on the social media posts is also used for the purpose of information analysis to understand
the customer preferences and choices.
There are various benefits of social media platforms that are offered to the business organizations in
terms of enhanced customer interaction, better marketing and advertising, increased collaboration and
likewise (Modeus, 2013).
However, there are also many drawbacks and disadvantages that are associated with these social
media platforms.
Disadvantages of using Social Media
An organization bears a number of disadvantages as well with the use of social media platforms in the
business functions and activities.
Some of these drawbacks and disadvantages are listed and described below.
Open Platform
The social media platforms that are available and have been set are open platforms which can be used
by any users and organization. There is a lot of information that is posted by the business units on
these social media platforms so that the information may reach out to maximum number of people.
Due to the open nature of the social platforms, there cannot be any restriction that may be imposed on
the information being viewed by the users. It gets exposed to the rivals and competitors as well that
may obtain the information shared and may use it to their advantage. This may lead to increased
competition in the market (Reddy, 2017).
Social Media Management Team
There are a number of departments and divisions that are created in a business organization. Some of
the common divisions that are normally present in the organizations include accounts department,
human resources department, sales and marketing department etc.
However, with the increased use and application of social media platforms and networking, it has
become necessary to set up social media management team as well (Business, 2015).

Disadvantages of using Social Media
There are various roles that are defined for the social media management team, such as, social media
managers, social media analysts, social media executives and many more. The organizations need to
look out for correct set of skills and knowledge to allocate these roles to the resources. There is also
external hiring that is carried out in certain cases.
The setting up of the social media management team involves the additional costs, such as, cost of
recruitment and training, cost of resources and likewise.
Security & Privacy Risks
With the use and application of social media platforms in the organization, there are a number of
security and privacy risks that emerge.
The information that is posted on the social media platforms is accessible to one and all. There is a lot
of information that is posted by the business organizations on the social media platforms, such as,
details of the new product being launched by the company, reviews provided by the customers, details
on the business partners and stakeholder, contact information etc. This information may be captured
by the malevolent entities and the security threats around identity theft and impersonation may be
given shape (Adweek, 2013). These malevolent entities may impersonate as the legitimate business
unit and then they may trick the users to extract additional information which may be used
inappropriately.
There are various hackers and malware attackers that are present in various parts of the world. These
hackers often look out for the security vulnerabilities and access points that may be used to hack the
organizational systems and information sets. With the use of social media platforms, the occurrence of
hack jobs and activities has increased due to the increase in the number of access points (Trendmicro,
2014). There are also a number of malware codes that have been designed which are launched by
making use of social media platform as the threat carrier. The customers and the other users that use
social media platforms are often infected with such malware. The launch of adware, spyware and
ransomware is a common practice in association with the social media platforms.
Due to the open nature of the social platforms, there cannot be any restriction that may be imposed on
the information being viewed by the users. It gets exposed to the rivals and competitors as well that
may obtain the information shared and may use it to their advantage. This may lead to increased
competition in the market. The competitors may apply their own analytics and may be able to identify
the marketing patterns and trends being used by the organization which comes under the category of
confidential information.
There are customers and business executives that may post and share information on the social media
accounts and may use location based services for the same. This would allow the hackers and

Disadvantages of using Social Media
monitors to capture the location details of the user. These details may then be used incorrectly to
cause harm to the user.
Accidental Posts
When a business organization sets up social media platforms, it is necessary to monitor and manage
the same at a continuous pace. There is also a lot of information that needs to be posted and shared
through these social media platforms.
It is often witnessed that the social media team often posts an incorrect or accidental post on their
social media accounts. It is within seconds that such accidental posts may get viral and users from all
over the globe may come to known about the same (Abrons, 2017).
Such accidental posts and their sharing to the public can have adverse impacts on the business
organizations and their reputation in the market.
Negative Comments
There are huge number of customers and users that have presence on the social media platforms.
These customers have the access to the social media platforms that are set up by any organization
along with the information that is posted on these platforms.
In association with the services and products that are provided to the customers by an organization,
there may be certain section of customers that may like the offerings, while, there may also be a
section of customers that may not like or appreciate the offerings (Webpagefx, 2017). The customers
and users belonging to the second category may post some deteriorating and upsetting comments and
feedback on a particular service or product.
There may also be competitors that may do it purposely so that the new set of users and customers
may read through these comments and may lose their interest to form any engagement with the
organization.
Thus, the customer base of the organization may get adversely impacted due to the negative
comments that may be posted by the users on these social media accounts.
Irregular Monitoring
The customers of the present times wish to get associated with the organizations that have social
media presence. They do not like to get associated with the ones that have a weaker social media
presence and activities.
This is due to the reason that social media platforms have made it easier to create a higher level of
transparency between the customers and the organizations (Nibusinessinfo, 2017).

Disadvantages of using Social Media
There are certain organizations that may not have a strong social media management team. In such
cases, the response to the customer questions and queries may not be provided in a timely manner.
This may lead to the deterioration of customer expectations and satisfaction from the services and
offers provided by the organization to its customers.
Inadequate Strategy and Planning
Planning is one of the most important activities and properties that are associated with any of the
tasks. It is necessary to make sure that adequate planning is carried out so that the success of any
activity can be assured.
In case of the social media platforms and related activities, there is a need to make use of an
appropriate strategy. There are business organizations that miss out on this step and like to go with the
trend of adapting social media platforms in their architecture (Norton, 2011).
Due to the absence of an adequate strategy, there are cases of failure or negative occurrences that are
witnessed. These occurrences are in the form of ineffective communication and monitoring of the
social media platforms, inappropriate content being shared on the social media platforms and many
more.
This leads to the execution and experience of many disadvantages in place of the benefits that are
possible with the use of social media platforms.
Countermeasures to the Drawbacks
There are various strategies and policies that shall be followed so that the benefits can be achieved
from the social media platforms that are set up for the organizations and the drawbacks are avoided.
One of the initial steps shall be the use of adequate planning and decision making in terms of the
analysis of the requirements of the organization to set up social media accounts. The assessment of the
needs shall be done followed by the selection and shortlisting of the social media platforms that shall
be used.
It shall then be followed by the identification and tagging of the resources to be used in the core team
of social media management. The resources shall be identified and shall be provided with the
information on the set of roles and responsibilities that they must carry out. The details of the plan
that these resources shall follow along with assessment of the risks shall also be performed.
The content management and creation team shall also be created so that they create an intelligent
content that may have the ability to inform the latest offers and services being provided in order to
expand the customer base and enhance the customer engagement. However, the content shall not
reveal any confidential and private information to the customers and the competitors (Baruah, 2012).

Disadvantages of using Social Media
The security risks and attacks shall be controlled by making use of adequate security controls and
tools. There are various types of security controls that have been created that may be used by the
organizations. These security controls include the use of information protection and privacy controls
for the avoidance of social media attacks on security. There may be a number of malware attacks that
may be launched by the hackers. There are anti-malware codes and tools that have been designed
which shall also be used and installed by the organizations on their respective social media accounts
so that the malware attacks can be avoided.
The social media management team must also be informed about the organizational ethics and ethical
practices that they must follow while posting and sharing the information on the social media
accounts.
Conclusion
Technology has advanced and upgraded itself in the recent years. There are many changes to
technology that have taken place and have been observed. The organizations need to make sure that
they make use of latest technological tools and practices that are in trend. This will allow them to have
a maximum customer base and increased revenues. Social media networking and marketing is one of
the latest additions in the practices being used in the current times. There are a number of social media
accounts that have been created that are used by the business organizations for a number of different
services and operations.
There are various benefits that are provided to the organizations with the use of these social media
platforms. However, there can also be a number of disadvantages that may be observed for the
organization. Some of these drawbacks include accidental posts, security attacks, negative feedback
and comments, use of information by the competitors, additional requirement of costs and resources
and likewise. These drawbacks shall be managed by following an adequate strategy and plan for the
management of the social media platforms and accounts. The selection of the resources in the social
media management team shall also be in accordance with the needs and requirements of the
organization.

Disadvantages of using Social Media
References
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[Accessed 13 Oct. 2017].
Baruah, T. (2012). Effectiveness of Social Media as a tool of communication and its potential
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http://www.ijsrp.org/research_paper_may2012/ijsrp-may-2012-24.pdf [Accessed 13 Oct.
2017].
Business (2015). Pros and cons of using social media for business. [online] Business.gov.au.
Available at: https://www.business.gov.au/info/run/advertising-and-online/pros-and-cons-of-
social-media [Accessed 13 Oct. 2017].
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2017].
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disadvantages-using-social-media [Accessed 13 Oct. 2017].
Norton, C. (2011). Norton's Notes | The Seven deadly disadvantages of Social Media.
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[online] WiseStep. Available at: https://content.wisestep.com/top-disadvantages-of-using-
social-media-for-job-search/ [Accessed 13 Oct. 2017].
Trendmicro (2014). 9 Social Media Threats You Need To Be Aware of - Security News -
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https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cybercrime-and-digital-threats/9-social-

Disadvantages of using Social Media
media-threats-you-need-to-be-aware-of [Accessed 13 Oct. 2017].
Webpagefx (2017). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media Marketing. [online]
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