Facebook Reportedly Building 'Facebook for Work' to Compete With LinkedIn, Google Instead of being banned at work, the company reportedly wants its platform to be embraced as a productivity tool.

By Laura Entis

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Twin Design | Shutterstock.com

Let's be honest: Many of us already Facebook at work, guiltily scanning our newsfeeds for updates or clandestinely scrolling through a friend's photo album for a few stolen moments before returning to the actual productive stuff. It's a behavior prevalent enough that many companies have blocked the social network in the workplace altogether.

Now, however, comes a report from the Financial Times that Facebook is working on a new website -- called "Facebook for Work' – that aims to transform the social network from a productivity killer to a productivity enhancer.

Related: Facebook Updates Its Privacy Policy, But Does That Mean Anything?

The new site, which the FT reports will look very similar to regular old Facebook with staple features such as newsfeeds and groups, will supposedly let employees chat with colleagues, connect with professional contacts (watch out, LinkedIn) and share and work together on documents (watch out, Google Drive and Microsoft Office). Users will be able to keep their personal profiles completely separate from their work profiles.

Facebook employees have already been using the site for some time, but "Facebook for Work' "is now being tested with companies as its launch approaches," the FT reports.

Facebook declined to comment.

If the site takes off and companies, instead of banning the platform, begin to encourage its use in the office, it would significantly boost the amount of time many, many people spend on the social network. As the FT notes, because Facebook makes most of its money from advertising, this has the potential to dramatically boost the company's revenue.

Related: 6 Ways to Grow Your Business Through LinkedIn

But businesses may be wary. Again, Facebook makes the majority of its revenue from collecting user data to sell targeted ads, a nugget that may give companies pause before deciding to share sensitive documents on the platform.

Tell Us: What do you think about "Facebook for Work'? Would you consider using it at your company?

Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Business News

Your Old Apple AirPods Can Soon Act as an Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid, According to the FDA

The new software is compatible with the Apple AirPods Pro and accessible through iOS — for free and now FDA-authorized.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

From Elite Athletes to Tech Titans — Discover the Surprising $100-Million Habit That Leads to Extraordinary Success

Success comes from mastering focus, eliminating distractions and prioritizing what truly matters.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Since Middle School': She Started a Side Hustle on Facebook Marketplace — Then a 'Game-Changer' Grew It to $25,000 a Month

Leena Pettigrew's "entrepreneurial spirit" inspired her to build a business with earnings that outpaced her full-time income.