While some people, particularly generation Y, are happy to have their lives public and accessible by anyone and everyone on the internet, we wonder if generation X and baby boomers are as comfortable having their information and images accessible to all (whether of a personal or work related nature).
Every day it seems new online social networking sites and derivatives of them are emerging. There are so many of these sites that a new site has emerged called Spokeo, which aggregates information from various social networking sites including personal, videos, blogs and contact information. One reviewer called it “A new type of search engine making people’s personal information easier to access.”
We have also seen the recent launch of Google’s new street view tool, again ensuring our privacy can be invaded by anyone. Businesses and Recruiters now have everything at hand to do a lot of reconnaissance, regardless of whether we are even looking for a job or not. Now I can Google your name online or visit Spokeo to find out what you wear, where you eat, who your friends are, where you last holidayed, where you live and what your house looks like, even what you look like of a morning – even before I have looked at your work history. My concern is twofold; the invasion of privacy and that there is enough subjective assessment that goes on by hirers without making it even easier for them to discriminate with all this additional information at hand.
How much do you value your privacy? What information do you think a prospective employer realistically needs to know about you?
2 Comments
Kelly I agree & disagree with you, well maybe disagree is too strong. Other than sourcing potential candidates and developing relationships with them social networks should not be used to as a background check.
Most of the time employers do not need to know what goes on in most social networks as part of a hiring decision. Recruiters and hiring managers need to be careful about what they do with this information due to discrimination laws. On the flip side employees need to be careful they do not violate their employment contracts or expose confidential information.
This is a huge topic with lots of positives and negatives for all concerned. Not to mention every country has their own laws on how such content can be used.
Hi Michael,
It is indeed a very interesting topic and no doubt will maybe even keep a lot of lawyers busy in the future!
It is a hard one indeed, as for an increasingly large group of people social networking sites and sharing information on line with our friends and family is common place and by and large a positive thing. We do sometimes forget that in many instances anyone and everyone can access our ‘social information’ should they wish.
During the job search process you would like to think that Recruiters and Hiring Managers are not checking out this type of information and if they are not placing any real value on it. However realistically we know that they are, and that this information can and does enter into the decision making process.
I think perhaps it is just a more convenient and easier way for people to do the ‘off the record’ background checks that they have always done more so just using the phone and email.
Personally I don’t think what you find out via social networking sites should influence a hiring decision (if all legal and above board) however are we being naive in thinking it is not being abused.
Kelly
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[...] about this topic in the past when looking at the issue of privacy and social networking sites: “Social Networking Sites – How Much Does Your Privacy Matter”, I have since discovered some more information on the topic. However, I do not think the topic [...]