Do you think social utilities such as Facebook are strictly for private use? Then it is time to join us for the upcoming brown bag lunch and discuss the possibilities and potentials of using social networks in a professional environment.

We all know about networking . We all do networking. We make it our business to network. But what about social networking online?

Well, I guess with more than 500 million active facebook  users, some of you might have an account. But do you use it for professional purposes also? If we believe facebook statistics, the average user has 130 friends. All of them put together spend over 700 billion minutes per month on facebook. So, I am asking myself what would be a good reason not to tap into this gigantic pool?

Whilst facebook users have been starting to use their networks for professional purposes, LinkedIn emerged  from the idea to build up professional networks online. Therefore its acceptance in the professional world is far higher. Today social networks are even used to communicate with colleagues working abroad or in the field in some decentralized nonprofit organizations.

Some  might argue that using social networks in a professional environment has an unprofessional touch. Other might not say it loud but have this daunting fear of losing control over spreading the message.

Whilst these are legitimate concerns, we should and cannot ignore the potential of social media for social change.

Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a professor at Harvard Business School, suggests to start by wallowing in the feelings of dread it arouses.

We invite you to the upcoming brown bag lunch on social networking where we would like to explore the potentials of social networks for nonprofit organizations. Keep in mind that a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved!

Join us on 26 August 2010 on UN Campus in Bonn in room 2309 between 12:30 – 1:30 pm!

Isabel Thompson (thompson[at]vie.unu.edu)