Risk Assessment Of Social Media Literature Review Samples

Ideally, social media uses technology that involves creation and dissemination of information through the social networks. Specifically, social media uses internet that provides a platform for users to generate and share online information, which may be in the form of text, audio, images, or videos. Such information becomes risky when its content is injurious to particular people or organizations or certain activities. Notably, despite the obvious advantages of social media, including its ability to facilitate growth of businesses, the same social media may affect a business negatively, thereby becoming a risk to the business (Shullich, 2012). Some common social media platforms include Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, among others. Sharing information through these platforms is faster and effective; hence, if the shared content is injurious to the image of a business related ramifications my spread to various regions and many people within a very short time. Therefore, it is vital for any business entity to have appropriate Social Media Risk Assessment mechanisms to help them handle social media risks before they damage the reputations of their business completely.
The number of social media users increases exponentially, and most current and prospective customers have either joined or are willing to join some of the platforms. Therefore, organizations and business should put appropriate risk assessment mechanisms in place to enable them prevent different social media platforms from relaying damaging information about their operations customer, prospective customers, or competitors (Shullich, 2012). Different research studies conducted on the effects of social media on business have revealed that social media subjects businesses to different levels of risk. Therefore, it is important and essential for businesses to understand the types of risks they are prone to. After noting the type of risks, it is vital for the businesses to determine the content and level of risk. Finally, it is vital for the business to assess how often is the identified social media risk affecting or is subjected to the business.
After identifying the risks, the business should list them based on the effects they might bring to the business. Essentially, listing the social media risks will enable the social media risk manager to determine the order to use while mitigating the risks. In most instances, the business should start by dealing with the most damaging risks while the least damaging ones are handled last (Shullich, 2012). Additionally, the risks that have high frequency of occurrence should be noted for special treatment. Notably, after knowing the types of social media risks that a business is widely subjected to, it is relatively easier for the social media risk management team to development individual risk management mechanisms to address such risks. In most cases, implementing the appropriate risk management mechanisms will ensure that the organization handles risks effectively and conclusively, thereby preventing its chances of recurrence.
Social media risks to the business are diverse; hence, the social media risk management team should strive to understand the genesis of the risks, possible magnitude of damage, and possible mitigation mechanisms. It is noteworthy to indicate that social media risks are not only associated with outsiders or external forces, but the employees also use social media; hence, they have equal chances of subjecting the business or company to risks (Shullich, 2012). For instance, according to a 2011 survey, employees often use social media, thereby predisposing the organization or business to social media security risks (Shullich, 2012). Notably, employees are likely to damage the reputation of the organization using social media platforms. Therefore, it vital for the social media risk manager to be open minded when in evaluating, controlling, and mitigating social media risks.

Reference

Shullich, R. (2012). Risk Assessment of Social Media. Retrieved March 29, 2015 from, https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=6d6daebc2e&view=att&th=14c659146b2ad9d5&attid=0.2&disp=safe&realattid=f_i7ufv4er1&zw