DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new survey of 1,000 British and American professionals from Scredible plc, developer of socially driven education technologies, shows that over a third (38%) of U.S. professionals blame useless content for keeping them off social media.
The study, which surveyed fully-employed professionals aged between 20 and 45 also finds that around a quarter of Americans (24%) think there is too much spam on social media. 26% simply do not have time to post during the working day. A further 25% are worried about what their employers might think of their social media profiles, including how what they share might be judged.
The survey reveals a stark contrast between U.S. and U.K. professionals, with U.S. professionals notably more aware of the benefits of having a good social media profile can be in a business environment. 75% of U.S. professionals believe their online profile can have a positive effect on their reputation at work, compared to just 57% of Brits. And when it comes to career development, 54% of Americans recognize that their social media presence will be important for their careers in 5 years’ time, compared with only 39% of Brits.
Colin Lucas-Mudd, Chief Executive Officer at Scredible plc, says: “Our research shows that American professionals are more social savvy than their British counterparts. Americans are more willing to learn through online channels [48% of Americans say they have learned a lot this way, compared to just 29% of Brits] and use this knowledge to advance their careers.
“But the same concerns come up across both the U.S. and U.K. markets when it comes to being more engaged online: how hard it is to find good content, the time required to sift through spam, and –especially in the U.S. – the worry that bosses will judge what’s posted on social media.
“The U.K. is renowned globally for its creative, digital industries; but history demonstrates that they often fail to exploit the enormous commercial, development, and educational opportunities presented by a more connected world. Businesses and individuals that are quickest to recognize the benefits of an active social profile are set to get ahead of the competition, both locally and abroad. More awareness is needed everywhere, but Brits can certainly learn from the U.S. in this regard if they are to catch up and remain competitive.”
Other key findings of the survey include:
- Only 3% think social media currently provides useful, educational content
- 57% of men and 51% of women think social media should be banned in the office
- Only 7% believe that social media is most useful for researching topics
- 4% think its most useful for finding a job
- 11% of respondents think employees can damage a company’s reputation through using social media
To find out more about Scredible, visit the website at https://scredible.com/ or download the app (launched May 2015) from the Apple App store or on Google Play.
Photos of the Scredible app in use on phones and images of its UI are available upon request.
Notes to Editors
Scredible plc
Headquartered in Dublin, with operations in California, the U.K., and Belgium, Scredible plc is an Irish-based technology company with a growing global footprint. Scredible develops technologies that put machine learning to work for the benefit of the individual. The Scredible application enables and empowers individuals, particularly small business and enterprise users, to develop and succeed in the digital age. Supported by a digital learning and development practice that applies AI to continuously assess talent, the company is uniquely positioned to redefine the efficiency, distribution, and economics of the professional development and training sector.
