Main Article Content
Abstract
The integration of social media within human resource management (HRM) has reshaped traditional practices, providing innovative avenues for recruitment, employee engagement, and learning and development. This review explores the multifaceted role of social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and internal organizational networks in supporting HR functions and enhancing workplace culture. Through an analysis of recent studies, we examine the benefits of social media for broadening recruitment outreach, improving internal communication, and fostering collaborative learning environments. Social media enables HR professionals to access a more diverse talent pool, promote inclusivity, and support employees’ continuous learning, contributing to a connected and adaptive workforce. However, the rapid adoption of social media also presents ethical and practical challenges, such as privacy concerns, potential biases in recruitment, and information overload among employees. This paper further addresses the implications of these challenges and suggests frameworks for ethical integration of social media in HRM practices. Additionally, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) are anticipated to transform HRM by enhancing recruitment precision, tracking employee engagement, and providing immersive training experiences. The review concludes that while social media offers substantial opportunities for HRM advancement, its effective implementation requires robust governance policies to address ethical concerns and promote responsible usage. Future research should focus on developing sustainable strategies that balance technological benefits with ethical considerations, ensuring that social media continues to be a valuable asset in fostering organizational growth and resilience.
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References
- Al Shehri, M., Alshebami, A. S., & Almansour, K. M. (2021). The impact of AI on recruitment process efficiency and diversity in the social media era. Journal of Human Resource Management, 12(4), 99-107. https://doi.org/10.2139/jhrm2021.004
- Bondarouk, T., & Olivas-Luján, M. R. (2019). Social media and HRM: It is time to start ambidextrous conversations. Academy of Management Perspectives, 33(2), 213-224. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2017.0177
- Broughton, A., Higgins, T., Hicks, B., & Cox, A. (2013). Research paper: The use of social media in the recruitment process. Institute for Employment Studies. Available from: https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.4828.6080
- Brown, L., & Clark, M. (2023). Balancing social media in HRM: Benefits and privacy risks. Journal of Human Resource Management, 15(3), 112–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/19416520.2023.1039472
- Brown, V. R., & Vaughn, E. D. (2011). The writing on the (Facebook) wall: The use of social networking sites in hiring decisions. Journal of Business and Psychology, 26(2), 219-225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-011-9221-x
- Caers, R., & Castelyns, V. (2011). LinkedIn and Facebook in Belgium: The influences and biases of social network sites in recruitment and selection procedures. Social Science Computer Review, 29(4), 437-448. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439310386567
- Davison, H. K., Maraist, C., & Bing, M. N. (2011). Friend or foe? The promise and pitfalls of using social networking sites for HR decisions. Journal of Business and Psychology, 26(2), 153-159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-011-9215-8
- De Cieri, H., Holmes, B., & Bhatt, R. (2022). Ethical considerations in the use of AI for HR practices. HR Ethics Review, 23(3), 85-96. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003118320-3
- Evans, R., Reed, B., & Hernandez, J. (2022). Employee influencers in employer branding: The new social media ambassadors. Journal of Branding in HRM, 15(1), 40-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2022.1030281
- Farzan, R., Dabbish, L., Kraut, R. E., & Postmes, T. (2014). Increasing commitment to online communities by designing for social presence. Human–Computer Interaction, 29(4), 344-378. https://doi.org/10.1080/07370024.2014.921233
- Gibbs, C., MacDonald, F., & MacKay, K. (2015). Social media usage in hotel human resources: Recruitment, hiring and communication. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 27(2), 170-184. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2013-0194
- Gibbs, J. L., Rozaidi, N. A., & Eisenberg, J. (2015). Overcoming the “ideology of openness”: Probing the affordances of social media for organizational knowledge sharing. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 20(1), 102-120. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12096
- Hoek, J., Robertson, C., & Sandford, J. (2016). Employee behaviour and organizational reputation: Social media perspectives. Journal of Business Ethics, 138(3), 473-483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2610-4
- Huang, L., & Liu, J. (2019). Fostering continuous learning in a digital world: Exploring the impact of social media. Journal of Business Research, 101, 525–533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.01.075
- Jeske, D., & Shultz, K. S. (2016). Using social media content for screening in recruitment and selection: Pros and cons. Work, Employment and Society, 30(3), 535-546. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017015613746
- Johnson, R. (2023). Social media strategies for employee engagement: Case study of Southwest Airlines. Employee Relations Today, 18(2), 34–41. https://doi.org/10.1002/ert.22487
- Jones, L., & Woo, S. (2022). Enhancing skills training through VR in HRM: A case study approach. Journal of Training and Development, 47(3), 122-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtd.2022.101235
- Kane, G. C., Alavi, M., Labianca, G. J., & Borgatti, S. P. (2014). What’s different about social media networks? A framework and research agenda. MIS Quarterly, 38(1), 275-304. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2014/38.1.13
- Koch, R., Gerber, C., & de Klerk, J. J. (2018). The impact of social media on recruitment: Are you LinkedIn? SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 16(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v16i0.861
- Korzynski, P. (2013). Employee motivation in new working environment. International Journal of Academic Research, 5(5), 184-188. https://doi.org/10.7813/2075-4124.2013/5-5/B.28
- Leonardi, P. M. (2015). Ambient awareness and knowledge acquisition: Using social media to learn “who knows what” and “who knows whom.” MIS Quarterly, 39(4), 747-762. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2015/39.4.01
- Leonardi, P. M., Huysman, M., & Steinfield, C. (2013). Enterprise social media: Definition, history, and prospects for the study of social technologies in organizations. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 19(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12029
- Leonardi, P. M., & Vaast, E. (2017). Social media and their affordances for organizing: A review and agenda for research. Academy of Management Annals, 11(1), 150–188. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2015.0144
- Majchrzak, A., Faraj, S., Kane, G. C., & Azad, B. (2013). The contradictory influence of social media affordances on online communal knowledge sharing. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 19(1), 38-55. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12030
- Mansour, R., & Abrahams, D. (2021). Utilizing social media data analytics for employee engagement measurement. Journal of Organizational Behavior and Data Analysis, 36(2), 178-193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobda.2021.102211
- Madera, J. M. (2018). Recruiting and selecting leaders with social media: Implications for recruitment and selection. Management Research Review, 41(3), 409-429. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-02-2017-0042
- McFarland, L. A., & Ployhart, R. E. (2015). Social media: A contextual framework to guide research and practice. Journal of Applied Psychology, 100(6), 1653-1677. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039244
- Men, L. R., & Tsai, W. S. (2016). Public engagement with CEOs on social media: Motivations and relational outcomes. Public Relations Review, 42(5), 850-861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2016.07.005
- Muninger, M. I., Hammedi, W., & Mahr, D. (2019). The value of social media for innovation: A capability perspective. Journal of Business Research, 95, 116–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.10.012
- Nikolaou, I. (2014). Social networking web sites in job search and employee recruitment. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 22(2), 179-189. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsa.12067
- Pike, J. C., Bateman, P. J., & Butler, B. S. (2018). Information from social networking sites: Context collapse and flexibility in social network site use. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 69(7), 947-961. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24019
- Reyes, J., Britt, T., & Clarke, L. (2021). Privacy implications of data usage in HRM: A review of GDPR in social media screening. Human Resource Management Review, 31(2), 100756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2020.100756
- Sivakumar, M., Thomas, A., & Lee, H. (2020). AI-enabled talent acquisition: An emerging trend in social media recruitment. International Journal of Information Management, 50, 155-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.01.012
- Smith, P., & Jones, T. (2021). Social media as a recruitment tool in tech: Insights from GE's #GEfortech campaign. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 32(4), 293–306. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21457
- Skeels, M. M., & Grudin, J. (2009). When social networks cross boundaries: A case study of workplace use of Facebook and LinkedIn. In Proceedings of the ACM 2009 International Conference on Supporting Group Work (pp. 95-104). https://doi.org/10.1145/1531674.1531689
- Sinha, N., & Thaly, P. (2013). A review on changing trends in recruitment practice to enhance the quality of hiring in global organizations. Management: Journal of Contemporary Management Issues, 18(2), 141-156. https://doi.org/10.30924/mjcmi.18.2.8
- Stoughton, J. W., Thompson, L. F., & Meade, A. W. (2013). Examining applicant reactions to the use of social networking websites in pre-employment screening. Journal of Business and Psychology, 28(2), 185-203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-012-9266-4
- Sundararajan, S. (2022). Reducing bias in social media recruitment with artificial intelligence. Human Resource Technology Review, 8(2), 45-59. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367356480-5
- Vuori, V., & Okkonen, J. (2012). Knowledge sharing motivational factors of using an intra‐organizational social media platform. Journal of Knowledge Management, 16(4), 592-603. https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271211246167
- Williams, R., & Baláž, V. (2023). Virtual reality in employee training: Future directions and challenges. Employee Development Quarterly, 29(2), 33-48. https://doi.org/10.1002/edq.3023
References
Al Shehri, M., Alshebami, A. S., & Almansour, K. M. (2021). The impact of AI on recruitment process efficiency and diversity in the social media era. Journal of Human Resource Management, 12(4), 99-107. https://doi.org/10.2139/jhrm2021.004
Bondarouk, T., & Olivas-Luján, M. R. (2019). Social media and HRM: It is time to start ambidextrous conversations. Academy of Management Perspectives, 33(2), 213-224. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2017.0177
Broughton, A., Higgins, T., Hicks, B., & Cox, A. (2013). Research paper: The use of social media in the recruitment process. Institute for Employment Studies. Available from: https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.4828.6080
Brown, L., & Clark, M. (2023). Balancing social media in HRM: Benefits and privacy risks. Journal of Human Resource Management, 15(3), 112–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/19416520.2023.1039472
Brown, V. R., & Vaughn, E. D. (2011). The writing on the (Facebook) wall: The use of social networking sites in hiring decisions. Journal of Business and Psychology, 26(2), 219-225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-011-9221-x
Caers, R., & Castelyns, V. (2011). LinkedIn and Facebook in Belgium: The influences and biases of social network sites in recruitment and selection procedures. Social Science Computer Review, 29(4), 437-448. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439310386567
Davison, H. K., Maraist, C., & Bing, M. N. (2011). Friend or foe? The promise and pitfalls of using social networking sites for HR decisions. Journal of Business and Psychology, 26(2), 153-159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-011-9215-8
De Cieri, H., Holmes, B., & Bhatt, R. (2022). Ethical considerations in the use of AI for HR practices. HR Ethics Review, 23(3), 85-96. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003118320-3
Evans, R., Reed, B., & Hernandez, J. (2022). Employee influencers in employer branding: The new social media ambassadors. Journal of Branding in HRM, 15(1), 40-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2022.1030281
Farzan, R., Dabbish, L., Kraut, R. E., & Postmes, T. (2014). Increasing commitment to online communities by designing for social presence. Human–Computer Interaction, 29(4), 344-378. https://doi.org/10.1080/07370024.2014.921233
Gibbs, C., MacDonald, F., & MacKay, K. (2015). Social media usage in hotel human resources: Recruitment, hiring and communication. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 27(2), 170-184. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2013-0194
Gibbs, J. L., Rozaidi, N. A., & Eisenberg, J. (2015). Overcoming the “ideology of openness”: Probing the affordances of social media for organizational knowledge sharing. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 20(1), 102-120. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12096
Hoek, J., Robertson, C., & Sandford, J. (2016). Employee behaviour and organizational reputation: Social media perspectives. Journal of Business Ethics, 138(3), 473-483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2610-4
Huang, L., & Liu, J. (2019). Fostering continuous learning in a digital world: Exploring the impact of social media. Journal of Business Research, 101, 525–533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.01.075
Jeske, D., & Shultz, K. S. (2016). Using social media content for screening in recruitment and selection: Pros and cons. Work, Employment and Society, 30(3), 535-546. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017015613746
Johnson, R. (2023). Social media strategies for employee engagement: Case study of Southwest Airlines. Employee Relations Today, 18(2), 34–41. https://doi.org/10.1002/ert.22487
Jones, L., & Woo, S. (2022). Enhancing skills training through VR in HRM: A case study approach. Journal of Training and Development, 47(3), 122-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtd.2022.101235
Kane, G. C., Alavi, M., Labianca, G. J., & Borgatti, S. P. (2014). What’s different about social media networks? A framework and research agenda. MIS Quarterly, 38(1), 275-304. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2014/38.1.13
Koch, R., Gerber, C., & de Klerk, J. J. (2018). The impact of social media on recruitment: Are you LinkedIn? SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 16(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v16i0.861
Korzynski, P. (2013). Employee motivation in new working environment. International Journal of Academic Research, 5(5), 184-188. https://doi.org/10.7813/2075-4124.2013/5-5/B.28
Leonardi, P. M. (2015). Ambient awareness and knowledge acquisition: Using social media to learn “who knows what” and “who knows whom.” MIS Quarterly, 39(4), 747-762. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2015/39.4.01
Leonardi, P. M., Huysman, M., & Steinfield, C. (2013). Enterprise social media: Definition, history, and prospects for the study of social technologies in organizations. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 19(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12029
Leonardi, P. M., & Vaast, E. (2017). Social media and their affordances for organizing: A review and agenda for research. Academy of Management Annals, 11(1), 150–188. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2015.0144
Majchrzak, A., Faraj, S., Kane, G. C., & Azad, B. (2013). The contradictory influence of social media affordances on online communal knowledge sharing. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 19(1), 38-55. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12030
Mansour, R., & Abrahams, D. (2021). Utilizing social media data analytics for employee engagement measurement. Journal of Organizational Behavior and Data Analysis, 36(2), 178-193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobda.2021.102211
Madera, J. M. (2018). Recruiting and selecting leaders with social media: Implications for recruitment and selection. Management Research Review, 41(3), 409-429. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-02-2017-0042
McFarland, L. A., & Ployhart, R. E. (2015). Social media: A contextual framework to guide research and practice. Journal of Applied Psychology, 100(6), 1653-1677. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039244
Men, L. R., & Tsai, W. S. (2016). Public engagement with CEOs on social media: Motivations and relational outcomes. Public Relations Review, 42(5), 850-861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2016.07.005
Muninger, M. I., Hammedi, W., & Mahr, D. (2019). The value of social media for innovation: A capability perspective. Journal of Business Research, 95, 116–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.10.012
Nikolaou, I. (2014). Social networking web sites in job search and employee recruitment. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 22(2), 179-189. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsa.12067
Pike, J. C., Bateman, P. J., & Butler, B. S. (2018). Information from social networking sites: Context collapse and flexibility in social network site use. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 69(7), 947-961. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24019
Reyes, J., Britt, T., & Clarke, L. (2021). Privacy implications of data usage in HRM: A review of GDPR in social media screening. Human Resource Management Review, 31(2), 100756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2020.100756
Sivakumar, M., Thomas, A., & Lee, H. (2020). AI-enabled talent acquisition: An emerging trend in social media recruitment. International Journal of Information Management, 50, 155-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.01.012
Smith, P., & Jones, T. (2021). Social media as a recruitment tool in tech: Insights from GE's #GEfortech campaign. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 32(4), 293–306. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21457
Skeels, M. M., & Grudin, J. (2009). When social networks cross boundaries: A case study of workplace use of Facebook and LinkedIn. In Proceedings of the ACM 2009 International Conference on Supporting Group Work (pp. 95-104). https://doi.org/10.1145/1531674.1531689
Sinha, N., & Thaly, P. (2013). A review on changing trends in recruitment practice to enhance the quality of hiring in global organizations. Management: Journal of Contemporary Management Issues, 18(2), 141-156. https://doi.org/10.30924/mjcmi.18.2.8
Stoughton, J. W., Thompson, L. F., & Meade, A. W. (2013). Examining applicant reactions to the use of social networking websites in pre-employment screening. Journal of Business and Psychology, 28(2), 185-203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-012-9266-4
Sundararajan, S. (2022). Reducing bias in social media recruitment with artificial intelligence. Human Resource Technology Review, 8(2), 45-59. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367356480-5
Vuori, V., & Okkonen, J. (2012). Knowledge sharing motivational factors of using an intra‐organizational social media platform. Journal of Knowledge Management, 16(4), 592-603. https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271211246167
Williams, R., & Baláž, V. (2023). Virtual reality in employee training: Future directions and challenges. Employee Development Quarterly, 29(2), 33-48. https://doi.org/10.1002/edq.3023