Social media and the workplace don’t always mix. Social media can be used as a recruiting and motivation tool, it needs to be used “professionally,” even in the off-hours. Over-sharing, tweeting the wrong thing, and complaining about the boss are never good ideas.
There are also concerns that the apps are not suited to be installed on company devices or when employees regularly engage in sensitive workplace activities or are required to access classified/confidential materials.
TikTok in the Spotlight
Much of the concern of late has been around the installation of TikTok on employee devices. The mobile app has been banned on government devices at the federal level, while many states have called for bans of the popular video-sharing app on university devices and networks.
However, the problem goes far beyond the Chinese-owned TikTok. There have been serious concerns that all social media apps go too far in tracking users and gathering personal data.
Watch What You Post
The biggest problem with social media remains that people tend to over-share and post inappropriate content. Already there have been countless stories of individuals losing a potential job offer for something posted years ago, while an off-the-cuff tweet could even result in termination.
According to a new survey conducted by the cybersecurity researchers at AllAboutCookies.org, one in ten respondents said they’d seen someone fired for their social media posts. In addition, 44% of managers said they’d consider a potential hire’s social media presence when making a hiring decision.
All too often, it is easy for some to get caught up in a debate or discussion, and post something that can have real-world consequences. Likewise, a seemingly “silly” post can be taken the wrong way by many, and that can impact one’s career years from now!
More Than the Pink Slip
The recent survey also found that even if what was posted on a social media platform didn’t result in termination, it may have still left a black mark in the employee’s file. Nearly one quarter (24%) of respondents said they had seen a co-worker avoid a pink slip but still received workplace discipline in regard to something they posted online.
Moreover, the survey found that beyond hiring and firing decisions, social media posts could color how co-workers feel about an individual. More than a quarter of those answering the survey (27%), said they had seen a co-worker post negatively about their job or placement of employment, and a full 25% of people said that their opinion of a co-worker was lowered because of social media posts.
The researchers suggested that employees should restrict who can see their profile, and to avoid common social media mishaps such as getting into heated political or other debates, but also be careful to avoid the plethora of social media scams that regularly make the rounds.
Young Social Media Users
For many boomers, who are likely already in the latter stages of their careers, posts on social media may be less of a concern. By contrast, those in Generation Z are now entering the workforce and grew up in a world where every moment and activity was shared on social media.
Even as many may have thought themselves to be more enlightened than their parents and grandparents, there remains a concern that over-sharing on social media could be a serious problem.
“It’s part of the learning process for young people that actions have consequences,” warned technology industry analyst Roger Entner of Recon Analytics.
“When you have a social media bullhorn in your hand, someone you don’t expect might hear it and react to it,” Entner told ClearanceJobs.
This review of social media isn’t actually new. However, one’s presence on social media is being used more than ever by hiring managers.
“In the early 2010s, employers already knew to review social media profiles of job candidates,” explained Jason Mollica, professorial lecturer and program director at American University School of Communication. “If they saw something questionable, the likelihood of being hired was slim.”
Gen-Z May Already See the Dangers of Oversharing
The social landscape is changing considerably. One issue is that content is created so quickly that a rogue post from years ago may not be spotted. Yet, even something that first appeared on social media years earlier can resurface, causing problems for recruits.
In these cases, individuals should be upfront if there are any serious problems. It is best not to be on the defensive in such cases.
Fortunately, younger users are already becoming a bit more conscious of what they are sharing.
“There will always be users who overshare. However, due to the past scrutiny of what is posted, GenZ has become more careful about how they present themselves online,” Mollica told ClearanceJobs. “Those legacy networks – Twitter, Facebook, et al. – are now adjusting to becoming less social. This is why stories are more popular; the user can choose who sees it. In fact, according to Pew Research, a 2021 study showed GenZ is the only generation to see recent declines in social media use.”
It is still important to think about the future career when posting today. That can be hard even for “mature adults” at times and could be even harder with the youth. However, it may be best to engrain a sense of responsibility in social media use with today’s young people.
“Educating a younger generation on the proper use of social media is a great idea,” said Mollica. “For years, I’ve advocated that school districts should have a class or classes on proper use of social media and best practices.”
However, he also noted it could still be difficult to determine when that education should begin.
“Elementary school or junior high,” pondered Mollica. “Helping guide young people on social media use can only be successful if parents and kids are willing to listen.”
