The development of information technology, especially through the birth of social media, has brought significant changes in Indonesian society. These changes affect various aspects of life, including culture, ethics, and social norms.

Social media is a digital platform that allows users to create, share and interact with content online. Some popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube, through these platforms offer a variety of features and functions designed to meet the needs of communication, entertainment, professional networking, and digital marketing.

In addition, social media is a powerful and versatile tool that affects almost all aspects of modern life. While it offers many benefits, such as better connectivity and easy access to information, it also brings challenges that need to be addressed through digital literacy education and appropriate policies.

Based on research conducted by Data Reportal, Indonesia's population in January 2024 reached 278.7 million while the number of social media users in Indonesia had 139.0 million active social media users in January 2024, equivalent to 49.9 percent of the total population in Indonesia. In addition, there were 5.07 billion social media users worldwide in early April 2024, equivalent to 62.6 percent of the total global population.

Meanwhile, GWI revealed data that the average active social media user uses or visits an average of 6.7 different social platforms each month, and spends an average of 2 hours 20 minutes per day using social media. Of course, the use of social media has positive and negative impacts on its users both for personal life, social life and in the work environment. Here are some of the main impacts of using social media in the work environment:

Positive Impact

1. Facilitate communication and collaboration between teams, both internally and externally, through instant messaging, voice calls and video calls.

2. Providing access to a variety of online courses, tutorials and learning resources that can help employees improve skills and knowledge that can increase work productivity.

3. Strengthen company culture by building internal communities, sharing company news and achievements, and increasing employee engagement.

4. Social media can be utilized in the Business world to promote their products and services, increase brand awareness, and reach a wider audience.

5. Flexibility for professionals to network, search for job opportunities, and connect with colleagues or companies around the world.

Negative Impact

1. Employee behavior on social media can impact a company's reputation. Negative comments or inappropriate posts can damage the company's image.

2. Social media can blur the lines between professional and personal life, which can lead to employees feeling pressured or overwhelmed.

3. Employees can be distracted by personal use of social media during work hours, which can reduce focus and productivity.

4. Social media use in the workplace can lead to cyberbullying or conflict between employees, which can create an unhealthy work environment.

5. Sensitive or confidential company information may be at risk of being leaked through social media, either accidentally or intentionally by employees.

6. Companies should ensure that employees' use of social media complies with applicable regulations and policies, including data protection and copyright.

The use of social media in the workplace has many benefits that can enhance professional networking, marketing, communication and employee development. However, companies must manage risks related to reduced productivity, security, reputation and work-life balance. Clear policies and digital literacy education for employees can help maximize the benefits and minimize the negative impacts of social media use in the workplace.

Therefore, practicing the wisdom of using social media in the work environment can begin in college. Students can utilize their time in college to develop these skills, which will be very useful in their professional careers in the workforce. Some ways to practice wise use of social media since college can start with the simplest ways such as always communicating politely and respecting the views of others on social media, including learning how to manage online conflicts wisely. You can also take online courses or workshops on digital literacy that cover topics such as cybersecurity, digital ethics, and responsible use of social media. Always consider the long-term impact of the content to be shared, ensuring that it does not harm the reputation of yourself or others. Set a specific time to use social media and avoid excessive use that could interfere with your studies and other tasks. You can start implementing these simple steps since your university days, so that you will be more prepared and wise in using social media in the work environment. Thus, your productivity and professionalism will not be compromised.

(Sekar Ayu Putri / Humas UNDIRA)

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