An intriguing move from NatWest, which is blocking staff from using WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger for work communications.

This is a terrible blow to hacks and flaks under the age of 35 who now fear they may have to use their phones to actually speak to each other.

Some have told HR they are suffering from acute anxiety. A class-action lawsuit can’t be far off.

NatWest’s point is that approved “channels of communication” must have retrievable records.

You can see why it would worry. Last August, Ofgem fined Morgan Stanley for “not recording and retaining” electronic communications.

Punishments in the US have been worse still, and the Financial Conduct Authority in London is also talking tough.

It seems highly unlikely that flaks (or hacks) of any age will stop using social media.

More likely, they will carry around two smart phones, one for work and one for play.

I used to do this myself and it is almost impossible to stop the two blurring. For a while, I managed to keep WhatsApp as a friend and family tool.

But once you’ve answered one work message on it, that’s that. The floodgates open.

What big companies are doing – the other banks will probably follow NatWest – is in effect protecting themselves at the expense of their employees.

Serious exchanges of actual inside information will happen in private bars, same as usual. Experienced traders always knew better how to handle this stuff.

It’s not hard to imagine an office junior falling foul of the rules and being made an almighty example of.

That raises other questions. If I discuss work matters on a private phone, can my employer seize that phone or not?

Privacy issues spring up everywhere.

If I delete entirely personal messages before I hand over my private phone to my employer, does that induce yet more suspicion?

Separately, The Guardian today said it would depart “toxic media platform” Twitter/X.

Editor Kath Viner says: “The presidential election campaign only served to underline what we have considered for a long time: that X is a toxic media platform and that its owner, Elon Musk, has been able to use its influence to shape political discourse.”

Hacks can still use X for reporting purposes, but not to promote Guardian work.

Again, it is easy to see that rule being tested since the distinction between asking a question and showing why you asked it is far from clear cut.

Corporately, these moves may make sense and may be, ironically, trending.

But some poor souls are going to find themselves in breach for just doing, they thought, their jobs.

Please send candidates for press release of the day to: Simon.english@roxhillmedia.com