Social media users today have given the term “creeping” a whole new meaning. What was once a frowned upon real-life invasion of privacy has morphed into a socially acceptable digital practice, with a great number of people participating daily.
It’s perfectly fine to thoroughly examine someone’s Facebook profile, Twitter feed, LinkedIn page or Instagram photos from the comfort of your home — after all, they’re posting the information for you to look at in the first place, right?
But is there ever a time when this so-called “creeping” crosses the line, specifically in the business world?
Late this spring and early this summer, media outlets across the country quickly nabbed attention with stories of businesses demanding social media passwords of potential employees prior to their hire. The idea was to investigate websites like Facebook for information that could influence their hiring practices (or simply put, to “creep” on potential employees in search of drunken photos, offensive posts, etc.). Most Americans, including myself, were outraged by the practice.
It’s worth noting that I think it is perfectly acceptable for employers to utilize social media to learn more about potential hires or current employees. Today it’s not uncommon to perform a Google search on everyone from our college professor to our upcoming weekend date. We have the tools to do so with ease and it’s foolish to expect employers not to utilize what’s available to anyone with an Internet connection. This is why it’s important for working adults to keep their social media profiles both personal and professional.
I do not, however, think it is acceptable for employers to demand passwords to Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites to learn more about potential hires or current employees. The act is a blatant invasion of privacy and a threat to a person’s online security. If an average person (or average employer) surfing the Web cannot find the information due to privacy blocks, why is it necessary to obtain that information with a password? It doesn’t threaten a person’s reputation or a company’s reputation if it is not easily accessed online.
Social media is free and readily available for anyone with an Internet connection. It can be used for great things in the professional world, including obtaining feedback and establishing relationships with customers. Unfortunately, I fear employers may deter employees from utilizing social media altogether if they ask for employees’ passwords and they place so much emphasis on constantly reviewing it.
A little common sense goes a long way, and I think that’s all employers need to emphasize to keep social media professional, safe and effective for everyone.