Getting to grips with the Facebook phenomenon

The social networking phenomenon has dominated the HR profession during the past year - and split it down the middle. Technology editor John Stokdyk looks at how HR managers and software suppliers have responded.

A year ago, Facebook barely registered in debates and discussions on HRZone.co.uk - often as a useful barometer for HR managers' concerns. But since last summer, nearly 40 articles have mentioned social networking and the issues raised have illustrated the way new tools can create excitement and fear in equal measures.

By September last year it was reported that an estimated 50% of employers had disciplined employees for wasting time on social networking sites, and a similar proportion of employees had been affected by bans on Facebook.