Why blocking IM shouldn’t be an option
Feb 13th, 2007 by Karen
As part of 5 Weeks to a Social Library participants have to chat (using instant messenger) concerning the topic of the week in small groups. I discovered early on that the workplace of the participants in the group I’m leading has chosen to try to completely and total block chat. This means they filter out web-based chat tools like Meebo and AIM Express. While a part of me understands the reasons for this, I’m also disappointed and frustrated with this thinking.
IM isn’t just for gossiping with your friends or killing time. IM can play a significant role in facilitating communication between colleagues or co-workers in geographically disparate areas. I have IM open all day at work because it allows me to ask questions and get instant answers to problems I’m having or get feedback about projects I’m working on. Additionally, I use IM to coordinate and communicate about group projects. Both 5 Weeks to a Social Library and the Texas Digital Library Institutional Repository Working Group use IM to have virtual meetings. Also when I’m away from the office IM is often my staff’s quickest way to get a hold of me.
Many of the comments I’ve heard made about IM mirror those made in the early days of email. In particular, the question of personal use and staff not spending their times wisely. I can understand some of the backlash against IM because it can be a security risk if staff use it to transfer files. However, this risk can be posed by other software was well (cough, cough email attachments- particular via web-based email) and as far as I can tell Meebo doesn’t allow files transfers so this mitigate that particular risk.
IM has the potential to make work in cross-functional, geographically dispursed teamwork easier. It enables people to potentially expand their network of colleagues and get expert answers from afar. Blocking IM denies your users a tool for collaboration and communication and creates an environment of mistrust. When deciding to block chat seriously consider all of these implications and the potential disservice you are doing your users.
