The Social Media Trap -- How Knowledge Workers Learn to Deal with Constant Social Connectivity

Abstract

People are connected to their colleagues, customers, family and friends almost all the time and everywhere via virtual communication channels. However, constant social connectivity is a two-edged sword bringing about positive as well as negative effects especially in the professional context. Knowledge workers suffer from pervasive interruptions, escalating engagement, ineffectiveness, but also social overload due to the increasing use of social media. Therefore, they have to learn how to deal with constant social connectivity. Based on an exploratory case study involving 41 interviews with members of a large-scale, international IS project, we found that knowledge workers develop coping measures in order to deal with the negative effects of social media use. Drawing on social learning theory, our results indicate the triggers of learning and that knowledge workers acquire and internalise connectivity skills by direct experience, modelling and self-control. We revealed that matched-dependent behavior is particularly important in the connectivity field.