What you say on the web can come back to haunt you

[joslar15]

The Federal Trade Commission has approved a controversial firm which scours social media sites to check on job applicants.

It means anything you've ever said in public on sites including Facebook, Twitter and even Craigslist could be seen by your would-be employer.

The Washington-based commission has ruled the firm, Social Intelligence Corporation, complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act - even though it keeps the results of its searches on file for seven years.

It raises the frightening prospect of any social media posting, even it's years old or was meant as a joke, being used in background checks.

Applicants who use online pseudonyms aren't safe, either - the firm uses special software to link those nicknames with real, offline names known to employers

Read more: How anything you've EVER said on the internet could be seen by employers as government approves Social Intelligence Corp | Mail Online

 

[KG1]

Social Intelligence Corporation

Formerly Known as "Big Brother"

 

[E5RANGER375]

like I havent ever told a boss to go **** himself if he's being a prick or told them they suck at what they are doing and why. they will get loyalty and honesty from me. thats what they pay for. all they have to do is ask and i will tell them the truth in the interview about whatever or after it. I keep my personal views in check when im with a company because its called RESPECT and im on their time. Im not a loose cannon. Id rather have the guy who I know will always be straight up with me working for me than the little ***** thats gonna talk behind my back and lose business for me.

 

[Cru]

This is why I don’t do Facebook. Never have.

 

[RockofStrength]

 

[indyjoe]

Unless you are happy with what you put on the Internet being on the front page of your local paper, DON'T PUT IT ON THE INTERNET. It IS that simple.

 

[miguel]

I'm with E5RANGER375.

I'm candid 24/7, not just on social media sites. Most all of the people I work with follow me on many/most social platforms I participate on. I'm not about to change my mind about life because somebody I work with, or for, doesn't agree with me. If they want to fire me, fine. I got this job, I'll get another.

 

[shibumiseeker]

For a whole host of reasons I am careful about what I say online or in email or any other traceable format, this is just one. I once had an employer threaten to fire my fiancee if she married me because he didn't like things I'd posted online (that had nothing to do with him or his business).

 

[CombatVet]

THOUGHT CRIMINALS! ALL OF YOU!

Hey future Employer, you can go get bent!

 

[chocktaw2]

THOUGHT CRIMINALS! ALL OF YOU!

Hey future Employer, you can go get bent!

You are so very close to the real truth here. Just give em a couple of years, the Internet police are already in business!

 

[stilllearning09]

I know a few employers who have been going on facebook to check out employee candidates. This is especially true if the candidates were coming out of college and applying for their first job. This is nothing new, but on a larger scale.

 

[Spazzmodicus]

I have a buddy that almost didn't get hired because the prospective employer went on his facebook page and seen pics of the tattoos covering his entire torso and arms.....some of them aryan. He got hired......but got fired 3 months later.

 

[Zephri]

If I don't get hired because some employer looked at my FB page then I'm pretty sure I wouldn't of wanted to work there anyways.

Course you can always block the amount of info people see on your FB page without befriending you.

 

[Spazzmodicus]

If I don't get hired because some employer looked at my FB page then I'm pretty sure I wouldn't of wanted to work there anyways.

Unless the employer offers great benefits and bonuses, etc....which they do.

Course you can always block the amount of info people see on your FB page without befriending you.

True. I did the facebook thing for a while. I think I still have a fake profile set up but I just don't mess with FB anymore. It's both surprising and pathetic at the amount of private info people release on that platform about themselves, whether knowingly or not. I'm sure Big Brother couldn't be happier.

 

[tyler34]

I work for myself so I say whatever I want I don't think my boss will care, in fact I think we have a lot in common. but then again I've never been one to not just say whatever I'm thinking like an old man with Alzheimers even when I was employed by a company other than myself.

 

[Zephri]

Unless the employer offers great benefits and bonuses, etc....which they do.




True. I did the facebook thing for a while. I think I still have a fake profile set up but I just don't mess with FB anymore. It's both surprising and pathetic at the amount of private info people release on that platform about themselves, whether knowingly or not. I'm sure Big Brother couldn't be happier.

What employer are you talking about? Not all of them provide good benefits if any at all.

As for the government, my info is nothing they couldn't have found out through other means or already have.

 

[LEaSH]

There was (maybe still is) a government program in the works to compile every bit and byte of digital info on everyone.

From credit spending to the movies you rent to the books you read, everything.

Total Information Awareness.

It was supposedly stopped by congress around a decade ago. You bet your ass they just didn't pull the plug. Someone somewhere has been developing it - private industry - or government, whatever.

The guy that was heading it up should have gone to prison for the Watergate thing. Why he's still involved in any government agency. baffles me.

 

[Que]

They can't hold anything against you as long as you say, "just kidding," highlight in purple, or use a smiley face.

 

[PatriotPride]

Course you can always block the amount of info people see on your FB page without befriending you.

Please keep in mind that this tends to be ineffective. There is an administrative function of Facebook which allows the user to search and see EVERY aspect of your profile. It's commonly used by Law Enforcement, especially Corrections, and I see no reason why a prospective employer could not have access to the same administrative function as well.

 

[Zephri]

Please keep in mind that this tends to be ineffective. There is an administrative function of Facebook which allows the user to search and see EVERY aspect of your profile. It's commonly used by Law Enforcement, especially Corrections, and I see no reason why a prospective employer could not have access to the same administrative function as well.

I think I should make it clear that I don't really care who looks at my profile, so this is a moot point.