Facebook has helped millions of companies across the globe get the word out about their products and services in creative ways and has become one of the leading sites for online marketing and social media. However, the relationship between Facebook and companies is not loved by everyone. Many recent graduates are seen changing their Facebook names and blocking their profiles in fear that a job may see something unflattering such as alcohol or foul language. In many cases, another Facebook user can post a comment or tag a picture on another person’s wall. It is also not uncommon for a person, such as an employer, to be able to find a picture of a person through a friend of a friend of a friend. In other words, keeping your Facebook page suitable for a potential employer can be tiring and sometimes impossible.
If you are a business owner looking to hire an employee you have a big question to ask yourself: Should Facebook content matter when hiring? Does Facebook really give an accurate portrayal of a candidate? According to Oregon Business Report, “45% of employers reported in a recent CareerBuilder survey that they use social networking sites to research job candidates.” Most recent graduates would say yes, but there are a few reasons why Facebook screening is still legal and probably always will be:
Three Reasons why Facebook Scanning Will Always Be Legal
- Picture Control
- Writing Does Not Lie
- Blocking Features
Ultimately the argument comes down to user control. As hard as it may be, through all the twists and turns, loopholes, and hoops a user may have to jump through, a user does have control over what makes it to Facebook (but hopefully for most this isn’t so difficult!)
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