Tech

Should you message your boss on Facebook?

Published

4 years ago

August 17, 2022

A U.S. court has ruled it acceptable for employees to use social media messaging platforms to send workplace requests to employers.

A unanimous ruling at a Virginia Court found that a worker who used Facebook Messenger to seek emergency medical leave from their employer was well within their rights to do.

This is despite it contravening company policy.

The matter was escalated to court when the employer refused to accept this form of communication, and later fired to employee for job abandonment.

On appeal, the court found that the employee had used Facebook Messenger in the past to communicate with their employer about workplace matters.

This established a mode of communication as both acceptable and relevant on this platform.

The original policy denying the use of Facebook Messenger as an official form of communication was overturned.

The outcome of this case has set an interesting precedent in terms of internal communication policies and procedures within workplaces.

Some workplaces already use Facebook’s Workplace platform as an official internal collaborative space, where it is acceptable for employees and employers to communicate.

However, other organisations have what could be described as official and unofficial communication channels.

Official and unofficial channels

Organisational policies, procedures and processes may clearly state what the official channels are (e.g. email) when employees are communicating with employers.

This can be in relation to confidential matters and issues relating to their employment, such as applying for sick leave.

However, they can fail to capture the everyday ‘unofficial’ communication taking place on social media channels between employers and employees.

The outcome of this ruling sends a clear message to employers about responding to employees via ‘unofficial’ social media channels like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

This recent decision has proven that social media can be considered as official in the eyes of the law. It’s most likely going to become a more common channel as the world of social media continues to grow.

Internal policies must be reflective of the communication channels being used within organisations or employers must adhere to their own policies to ensure they are also upheld by the entire workplace.

Report by Dr. Karen Sutherland, University of the Sunshine Coast and Dharana Digital

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Dr Karen Sutherland

Dr Karen Sutherland is a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast where she designs and delivers social media education and research. Dr Sutherland is also the Co-Founder and Social Media Specialist at Dharana Digital marketing agency focused on helping people working in the health and wellness space.

Tech

Apple set to unveil budget iPhone 17e, new iPads and low-cost MacBook

Apple’s Tim Cook announces major product reveals this week, highlighting budget iPhone 17e, new iPads, and low-cost MacBook.

Published

4 days ago

February 27, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Apple’s Tim Cook announces major product reveals this week, highlighting budget iPhone 17e, new iPads, and low-cost MacBook.

Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook has confirmed a major week of product announcements kicking off Monday morning, building momentum toward a global “Apple Experience” event across New York, London and Shanghai. The tech giant is expected to spread its reveals across three days, fuelling speculation about its biggest refresh cycle yet.

Leading the buzz is the rumoured budget-friendly iPhone 17e, signalling Apple’s push to capture more price-conscious consumers without sacrificing performance. Two new iPads powered by advanced chips are also tipped to headline the lineup, pointing to stronger AI capabilities and faster processing speeds.

Rounding out the expected reveals is a low-cost 12.9-inch MacBook that’s already generating serious interest, alongside updated MacBook Pro models and a refreshed Mac Studio. It’s shaping up to be one of Apple’s most significant multi-product launches in recent years.

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#Apple #TimCook #iPhone17e #AppleEvent #TechNews #iPad #MacBook #Innovation

Tech

Nvidia posts record revenue as AI fears shake investors

Nvidia’s £68.1 billion revenue, up 73%, raises investor concerns about AI’s impact and tech customers’ financial health.

Published

4 days ago

February 27, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Nvidia’s £68.1 billion revenue, up 73%, raises investor concerns about AI’s impact and tech customers’ financial health.

Nvidia posted strong quarterly earnings, but Wall Street remained unimpressed, causing shares to fall 5%. Analysts point to investor concerns over AI dominance and a stalled $100 billion deal with OpenAI.

Experts discuss what factors in the earnings report failed to meet market expectations, including revenue projections and details around the Vera Rubin chip architecture. Competition from alternative chipmakers and scrutiny of hyperscaler cash flows are also shaping investor sentiment.

Despite recent setbacks, analysts remain cautiously bullish on Nvidia, highlighting long-term AI potential and the company’s dominant position in the chip market.

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Tech

Meta launches lawsuits over alleged scam advertising operations

Meta targets scam advertising networks in Brazil, China, and Vietnam, intensifying its crackdown on scams across its platforms.

Published

4 days ago

February 27, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Meta targets scam advertising networks in Brazil, China, and Vietnam, intensifying its crackdown on scams across its platforms.

Social media giant Meta has launched aggressive legal action targeting alleged scam operations using its platforms. The company has filed lawsuits against four advertising networks based in Brazil, China and Vietnam.

Meta has also issued cease and desist letters to eight marketing consultants accused of helping clients bypass the platform’s enforcement systems. The move signals a tougher stance on organised scam activity operating at scale.

While no criminal charges have been laid, Meta says it is doubling down on efforts to protect users and restore trust across its platforms as scam activity continues to rise globally.

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