In a context where 77% of workers admit to checking their social media at work, we can no longer simply ignore this element in team mood and engagement. However, this does not necessarily mean the practice is bad… Researchers from Rutgers University wanted to better understand the relationship workers have with major social media platforms.
What they found is quite interesting. Last August, they published a study that brings considerable nuance to a question that tends to polarize professionals. Some would spend all their time scrolling through TikTok or Instagram without feeling any discomfort or guilt, while others see it as a toxic vice.
The researchers created an analytical model to assess whether the content consumed – and not, the act of consuming social media itself – has a detrimental effect on a person. They classified content into four categories:
- Appealing (“pleasant to look at”)
- Family-oriented
- Contentious (“which is controversial or argumentative”)
- Achievement-focused (“which highlights an accomplishment”)
Subsequently, they recruited a cohort of 161 participants whom they asked about the nature of social content consumed during the day and their emotional state at the moment.
Result? They discovered that content perceived as contentious or achievement-focused triggered anxiety and feelings of isolation among employees. Conversely, appealing or family-oriented content tended to nurture employees’ sense of confidence, which encourages them to move toward work objectives. That’s no small benefit!
“It’s not just a distraction. There’s a lot going on,” confirms Greenbaum, researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
A source of inspiration… and distraction
The relationship each person maintains with social media is not simple. Even if we can identify types of content preferable to consume, it’s not so easy to put a limit on use itself. We wanted to survey our LinkedIn network to understand professionals’ perception of social media platforms.
Among respondents, Véronique Lieutaud admits to having an ambivalent relationship with social media:
“For a true break, I need to balance too much virtual and immaterial content with something concrete. I can’t completely disconnect from them at work, they don’t distract me that much and I try to avoid them during my breaks.”
Julie Tremblay-Potvin, for her part, sums up the paradox that many professionals find themselves in quite well:
“On my side, social media inspires me and drains me. It’s just a matter of managing it well… and especially knowing when to stop scrolling. I would add that healthy distraction has its limits. A proper break would be more of a ‘white space’ pause, which doesn’t continue to stimulate the brain.”
Conclusion: despite everything, with this new study, workers now know which type of content to focus their attention on (appealing and family-oriented content) and which to avoid (contentious and achievement-focused) to stay engaged at work.
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