Almost half of UK workers between the ages of 18 and 29 discuss work-related issues on social networking sites and blogs, according to a poll by website security specialists Clearswift.

It found more that a quarter of young workers spend three or more hours a week at work surging blogs and sites such as YouTube and MySpace. It found 40% admit accessing these sites several times a day.

Clearswift chief operating officer Ian Bowles says: “Finding the balance between harnessing the so-called Web 2.0 technologies for business benefits and maintaining strong security is key.

“It isn’t difficult to envisage an employee posting unauthorised comments about their company’s products or service quality issues on a bog causing major brand damage but at the same time banning all blog access is not the answer because it cuts the company off from conversations with partners and customers.”