Introduction
 

Social Networking Sites: A Definition
 

Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high schools, it is most popular online.( http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/) When it comes to online social networking, websites are usually used. These websites are known as social sites. Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Some sites cater to diverse audiences, while others attract people based on common language or shared racial, religious, or nationality-based identities. Sites also vary in the extent to which they incorporate new information and communication tools, such as mobile connectivity, blogging, and photo/video-sharing.( http://jcmc.indiana.edu/)

Social network sites (SNSs) such as MySpace has attracted millions of users, many of whom have integrated these sites into their daily practices. While it could be said that websites have most of the essential elements of social network services.
 

What is MySpace?
 

MySpace is a social networking website. MySpace, which launched in January of 2004, is one of the world's leading social portals. MySpace empowers its global community to experience the Internet through a social lens by integrating personal profiles, photo sharing, professional and viral videos, blogs, mobile, instant messaging, and the world's largest music community.( http://www.crunchbase.com) (see Figure1)Its headquarters are in Beverly Hills, California, USA.( Beverly,2007) My Space is a trust base virtual community or online social networks (Baynon-Davies, 2004, p.341)
 

Why people use MySpace?#p#分頁標題#e#
 

MySpace, anyone could sign up, as long as they are 14 and over. MySpace gives the user more power over page customization, allowing the user to display his/her personality. That's why there are over 120 million users and over 26 million results in Google for MySpace layouts. MySpace was a way for customers to network with those friends of theirs who had no school email address or had just decided to join a social networking club that had a broader user base.

What is Productivity?

Productivity is the relationship between the output generated by a production or service system and the input provided to create this output. Thus,productivity is defined as the effcient use of resource -- labour, captital, land, material, energy, information - in the production of various goods and services.(Prokopenko, 1992)
 

Thesis Statement
 

Online social networking sites increase personal productivity.
 

Literature Review
 

Online Social Networking Sites (e.g. MySpace )
 

MySpace is the most popular social networking site in the United States in June 2006.(http://mashable.com/) MySpace was overtaken internationally by main competitor Facebook in April 2008, based on monthly unique visitors.( Techtree News Staff,2008) The people generally considered those between 16 and 24 years of age - use sites like MySpace the way that many older people use the telephone, email, coffee shops and saloons. Social networking sites are a way to communicate and the millennials are entirely comfortable in the online environment.
 

The social networking site myspace.com has positively made an impact on the music industry. It gives every band out there a voice. And by voice, the ability to give millions and millions the chance to listen to their music. Bands are getting signed directly of myspace to million dollar record deals. (Taylor,2008)
 

MySpace purportedly had over 116 million users as of December 2006. More social networks are launched every day. For example, investor Jim Breyer is reportedly looking to invest $10 million for a five- to ten-person team to build a social networking site(Business 2.0,2006)Among young people "When you meet someone, the question is not 'What's your number?' it is 'What's your MySpace?'(Saul,2006) The line between communal information and personal information is swiftly blurring. It can be argued that there is no personal information in this day. You can't find everything on the Internet but you can find an astonishing amount of personal information. Many employers argue that requires they look up MySpace of all job candidates. Researching students is fairly typical among high-tech employers.(Alan,2006) However, some employers feel the information on social networking sites is of a private and not for consideration in determining employment. You can not ask about race, past relationships, religion, body type, favorite book or movie, or ask to see photo albums in a job interview. But you can collect this information from their MySpace. On MySpace, personal pages are generally obtainable to anyone who registers.#p#分頁標題#e#

My space is the User's Friends Space comments section. This is where the "friend" or contacts of given member can leave comments for all of the other viewers to see. (Lon,2009)As with most every blog, MySpace users can read and approve any comment and have the option to delete any comment before it is posted. You needn't worry about some nagitive evaluations that will show in your MySpace.
 

The Impact of online SNSs on personal productivity
 

Although most people think of social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace as time-wasters, a number of studies have shown just the opposite. That's right -- using social networking Web sites may actually increase your job productivity. In fact, a study conducted by the University of Melbourne in Australia found that employees who surfed the Internet for personal reasons are 9 percent more productive than those who don't. ( Fahmy,2009)This study looked at 300 workers, 70 percent of whom used the Internet for personal browsing. Researchers found that personal Web browsing sharpened an employee's concentration. According to the study, by taking short breaks, your mind can rest a while, and when you return to the task at hand, your brain will be refreshed and renewed. However, the study only researched those who used these sites in moderation, or less than 20 percent of their total time at work. People with addictive Internet habits might be less productive.
 

Another study conducted by AT&T also found that the use of social networking increased efficiency. Employees also reported that social networking has become part of the culture of their workplace.( AT&T.2008)However, the study also found a few downsides to social networking in the workplace. Forty-nine percent of workers reported distraction as a downfall, while 45 percent worried about leaks of confidential information. ( AT&T.2008)
 

Cyber-Bullying
 

Cyber-bullying is "when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person." (http://www.ncpc.org/) Cyber-bullies may reveal sufferers personal data (e.g. real name, address, or workplace/schools) at websites. Some cyberbullies may also send hostile and harassing emails and instantaneous messages to the sufferers, while other post gossip and activate others to dislike and gang up on the target
 

Discussion
 

Why companies preventing access to MySpace?
 

Social networking has generally discussed in the business world. And not all employers agree that MySpace are good for productivity. The stigma of social networking as a time-wasting activity definitely seems to dominate most companies' perceptions. Many companies block social networking sites. In addition to concerning themselves with whether social networking is stealing employees' attention, employers also worry about what potential and current employees are saying about them on these Web sites.( HR Tools.,2008)#p#分頁標題#e#
 

The time of the employees spent on MySpace, ranges from twenty minutes to an hour and a half a day, and during that time pictures, movies, text and increased personal email are being downloaded during that time, using up company bandwidth and eating into company productivity. In the other hand, a competitor may find out that you're planning the introduction of a new product simply because one of your staff members mentioned it in their MySpace. The employees taking longer breaks, talking about matters not relating to work, telephoning friends and even surfing the internet during working hours, are signs that interest in their job is weakening.(Rose,2008)
 

How does SNSs help companies boost productivity?
 

l Bringing life into the workplace
 

The impact of technology has blurred the lines between when work starts and ends. The concept of taking work home has become the norm with mobile phones and PDA's in 24 hour existence. To bring some balance to this the use of social networking during your day can be a portal for bringing some personal life into your work and decreasing resentment around having to work long days and be contactable at all times.
 

l Have a break
 

The concept of a cigarette break in the day is fabulous. Taking 5-8 minutes a few times per day to go outside, breathe fresh air and talk with colleagues. With so many workplaces being smoke free and many less employees smoking we often don't take time to have short breaks. Some companies now install software to remind their employees to have a break. Best case scenario for a break is going outside but a social networking site can also be used as a 5 minute break from work.
 

l Business networking
 

Many employees will increase their network of friends and associates through these sites. This type of networking is precious and spreads the word about your business.

l Stay longer at work because not rushing to get home and check what people are up to

Where once were the days that you could not make a social arrangement until you went home to use the phone, employees can now access social networking sites to make arrangements, plans and dates during the day. By decreasing concern around rushing home employees are more inclined to stay more focused at work and also stay longer.

l Build interpersonal relationships between employees
 

This helps narrow gaps between states and countries and can actually be a good source of new ideas between colleagues.
 

The issues of online SNSs
 

Some of the issues are:

The increase in members of your staff becoming more unenthusiastic. In an economic crisis, it could also signal some members of staff, are looking for a better position elsewhere.#p#分頁標題#e#

The worst de-motivational effects are active rumor mongering inside the working environment. This is a major morrosive effect on how staff work, and often leads to have some disagreements within staff members.

The impact for corporations will be an increasing ease of mobility for employees who maintain an active professional conversation with their counterparts around the world.
 

Solutions
 

As an individual, the easiest way to preserve your safety is to guarantee that the space to yourself settings on your profile only allow friends access.

As a company, simply block access by configuring your internet firewall, which can easily be set up by your IT department or a support company like Dial a Nerd. Another, softer approach is to only allow contact during lunch breaks.
 

MySpace can be used in a variety of ways to actually improve productivity and even increase company confidence. Companies can set up Groups within MySpace which only employees can join, consequently acting as a team training. It's like an online Intranet which your Human Resources department will popular , and it's free to company.
 

Conclusion
 

The Social Networking ground swell is buil ding rapidly. Though not all peoples agree that SNSs are good for productivity,the benefits of SNSs is more important. The thesis statement is convincing. Online social networking sites increase personal productivity.

The Internet communication across social networks and exchange among users. Online communication, particularly through web sites and group discussion forums such as MySpace, are effective strategies for social networks to expand their memberships and make easy the flow of resources, especially friendship and aid in the form of information. In the other hand, interpersonal relationships of employees which are very important by all means, being part of the same online community can lead to a persons views and ideals and personal frivolities being taken out of context and being taken in to the workplace and viewed by others in the wrong light.

A number of studies have shown that most people think of social networking sites like MySpace and Twitter as information resources,. That's right -- using social networking Web sites may actually increase your job productivity.
 

References
 

* Definition of Social Networking Sites in 2009. Available at : http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/

* Boyd, d. m., & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history, and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), article 11. http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/boyd.ellison.html

* Definition of MySpace in 2009. Available at : http://www.crunchbase.com/company/myspace#p#分頁標題#e#

* Techtree News Staff (2008-08-13). "Facebook: Largest, Fastest Growing Social Network". Techtree.com. ITNation.

* "MySpace was overtaken internationally by main competitor Facebook in April 2008"http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Facebook_Largest_Fastest_Growing_Social_Network/551-92134-643.html. Retrieved 2008-08-14.

* "The Social Marketplace." Business 2.0 (September 2006): 86.

* Hansell, Saul. "Making Friends Was Easy. Big Profit Is Tougher." The New York Times. April 23, 2006.

* Finder, Alan. "MySpace shuts doors to workplace - more companies check social sites for insight into candidates' lives." Houston Chronicle (June 11, 2006): 12.

* Fahmy, Miral. "Facebook, YouTube at work make better employees." Reuters. Yahoo Tech. April 2, 2009.

* Lon,David K.(2009) Online social media. Lucent books, USA

* Rose, B. (2008). Social networks link workers. Chicago tribune, USA

* "Social Networking in the Workplace Increases Efficiency." AT&T. Nov. 11, 2008. http://www.corp.att.com/emea/insights/pr/eng/social_111108.html

* "Cyber-bullying is "when the Internet, ...."Harris Interactive Cyberbullying Research Report in 2006 http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying

* "Social Networking Survey Results Released By One Of Nation's Largest Employment Law Firms." HR Tools. December 2008. http://www.hrtools.com/staffing/social_networking_survey_results_released_by_one_of_nations_largest_employment_law_firms.aspx