Facebook and Bebo banned by Aberdeen council
Restrictions on social networking sites
Published:
PLANS to lift restrictions on social networking sites have been scrapped by Aberdeen councillors.
An Aberdeen City Council committee has rejected proposals to allow members and staff more access to internet sites including Facebook, Bebo and Twitter.
Tory councillor Jim Farquharson told Aberdeen City Council’s corporate policy and performance committee that a tremendous amount of time could be wasted by staff on the internet.
Cllr Farquharson said: “The amount of time this takes up the less our productivity for the people of Aberdeen.”
Several sites are restricted at all times for Aberdeen council staff, including gambling, social networking and illegal sites.
Other websites, such as those that provide news, are allowed at certain times of the day.
Rhona Atkinson, Aberdeen council’s head of service design and development, said anyone who tried to access a restricted site repeatedly – or if it was a “serious transgression” – would be reported to a senior member of staff.
But under the new guidelines agreed by the Aberdeen City Council committee, all attempts to access restricted sites will now be reported.
Aberdeen councillors had asked officers to prepare a report into lifting restrictions.
Aberdeen councillors already on Facebook include Lib Dems’ John Stewart, Neil Fletcher, Ian Yuill and Kate Dean and SNP leader Kevin Stewart.
But Cllr Dean said she did not want members to be allowed to access Facebook and other sites at work.
Cllr Dean said: “I know how addictive it can be.”
The committee was told that Aberdeen City Council is considering setting up its own Facebook page.
