Social networks: who loves me follows me?

Away from their loved ones, business travellers can rely on the Internet to maintain a link with their day-to-day reality and share their own experiences. At a time when almost half the world's population (43 %) is listed on social networks, it's hard not to post a message on the Internet. "selfie on Red Square, Instagram Times Square, tweeter his first impressions of the Kazakhstan ? Here's a great way to impress your "followers. And, incidentally, to warn a rival company of a negotiation in progress! The practice is common, even in institutions that are subject to the utmost discretion. For example, by publishing their running routes via their sports app, US military personnel revealed secret bases in Iraq to the entire platform community.

two-thirds of business travellers use social networks to geolocate themselves by posting photos or information about their location.

In the 2018 edition ofAirPlus International Travel Management Studythe payment solutions specialist has devoted a chapter to this threat, which it calls "Insta-bragging. According to AirPlus, "two-thirds of business travellers geotag themselves on social networks by posting photos or information about their location." There are many threats to travellers and their companies as a result of this, from theindustrial espionage from kidnapping to burglary of their home while they're away.

However, AirPlus does not condemn the use of social networks, which can - particularly for younger generations of professionals - become a new way of interacting with colleagues and even customers. According to AirPlus, it is still necessary to take measures within the company, "define the right policy for using social networks"througha process of reflection and collaboration involving the various players in the company, i.e. travel managers, security and human resources managers, as well as travellers."